‘Blackmail’: Stalin slams Pradhan over NEP, 3-language-policy fund rider

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has slammed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of "blackmail" by allegedly withholding funds until the state accepted the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula.

Tagging a video clip of Pradhan speaking to reporters in Varanasi on Saturday, Stalin, in a post on X on Sunday (February 16) quoted Pradhan as saying that Tamil Nadu has to come to the terms of the Indian Constitution and that the three language policy is the rule of law.

Also Read: Centre using 'political revenge, blackmail, coercion' over NEP rejection: Stalin

'Blackmail'

Accusing Pradhan of "blackmail" for his alleged stand that Tamil Nadu would not be provided education related funds by the Centre till such time the state accepted the three language policy, the Chief Minister termed it as unacceptable, and Tamil people would not tolerate it.

The state sought its due, from the Centre which is its right and if the central minister spoke arrogantly as if the state claimed his personal wealth, then, in that case, Delhi would have to witness the trait of the Tamil people, the CM said.

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Stalin wants clarity

Further, Stalin wanted Pradhan to specify the Constitutional provision that made mandatory the three language policy of English, the respective regional language and Hindi.

States constitute the Indian union and education is on the concurrent list of the Constitution and hence, the union government cannot claim it to be their exclusive domain, the CM added.

(With agency inputs)