The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday intensified its opposition to the Centre’s education policies, with party MP Kanimozhi moving a privilege motion against Union Education Minister Dharamendra Pradhan. The motion accuses Pradhan of misleading Parliament regarding Tamil Nadu’s stance on the PM Shri scheme, a central government initiative aimed at strengthening and modernizing schools across India. This move comes as part of the larger battle between the Tamil Nadu government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre over key educational reforms, particularly the National Education Policy (NEP) and the contentious three-language formula.
Kanimozhi, a senior DMK leader and Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu, stated that Pradhan had wrongly claimed in the Lok Sabha that the Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the PM Shri scheme but later backtracked. She countered this assertion, emphasizing that Tamil Nadu had consistently opposed the scheme from the beginning, primarily because of its alignment with the NEP, which the state government has rejected in totality. Furthermore, she criticized Pradhan for misrepresenting a meeting between him and Tamil Nadu MPs, in which he alleged that they initially expressed support for the scheme but later withdrew. Kanimozhi argued that this claim was entirely inaccurate and misled Parliament, warranting the privilege motion.
The controversy erupted after Pradhan, in a speech in Parliament, accused the Tamil Nadu government of being “dishonest” and engaging in political maneuvering at the cost of students’ welfare. His remarks provoked a furious reaction from DMK MPs, leading to protests that disrupted the session and resulted in the adjournment of the Lok Sabha. Following the heated exchanges, Pradhan was forced to withdraw certain words he had used while referring to Tamil Nadu MPs. However, he defended his overall argument, urging the state government to prioritize education over politics and reconsider its opposition to the NEP.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also weighed in on the controversy, strongly condemning Pradhan’s remarks. Stalin accused the minister of displaying arrogance and insulting the people of Tamil Nadu, questioning whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed such statements. He reiterated that Tamil Nadu had always maintained a firm and unwavering stance against the NEP, particularly its three-language policy, which mandates the inclusion of Hindi. Tamil Nadu has historically opposed the imposition of Hindi in its educational system, with strong resistance dating back to the anti-Hindi agitations of the 20th century. The state has firmly adhered to its two-language policy, which includes Tamil and English, rejecting any attempts to enforce Hindi as a compulsory subject.
The DMK, in its official response, clarified that Tamil Nadu had never shown any interest in adopting the NEP and had explicitly conveyed this position to Pradhan during previous discussions. Party leaders emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s rejection of the NEP is rooted in concerns over preserving linguistic and cultural identity, as well as protecting the state's distinct approach to education. The state government has argued that the NEP, along with the PM Shri scheme, is an attempt by the Centre to impose a uniform education model that disregards regional preferences and autonomy.
The confrontation over the PM Shri scheme is just the latest in a series of clashes between the Tamil Nadu government and the BJP-led Centre, with education and language policies being key flashpoints. The DMK, which has positioned itself as a strong advocate of federalism and regional rights, has consistently opposed any perceived attempts by the central government to erode state autonomy.
The privilege motion moved by Kanimozhi adds another dimension to the ongoing political battle and places pressure on the central government to respond. It remains to be seen whether the motion will be taken up for discussion in Parliament and if any formal action will be initiated against Pradhan for allegedly misleading the House. Meanwhile, the broader dispute over education policies continues to escalate, with both the DMK and the Centre standing firm on their respective positions. The coming days are likely to witness further political maneuvering as Tamil Nadu continues to resist the implementation of the NEP and its associated schemes, reaffirming its commitment to its long-standing education policies.
