Udhayanidhi Stalin Opposes 'Hindi Imposition', Vows to Protect Tamil Identity

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has taken a firm stance against what he describes as "Hindi imposition" by the central government, speaking at a Veera Vanakkam Day event honoring those who died in language protests.

During his address in Tiruvottiyur, Stalin claimed that Hindi has "swallowed many mother tongues" that were once spoken in northern states like Haryana, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. He emphasized that Tamil Nadu holds a unique place in world history for sacrificing lives to protect its mother tongue.

The DMK government has consistently opposed the National Education Policy (*NEP*) 2020 and its three-language formula, which they view as an attempt to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states. In response, Tamil Nadu has introduced its own State Education Policy that rejects this approach.

These statements come amid heightened political tensions as Tamil Nadu approaches election season, with language politics continuing to be a significant rallying point for the DMK, following in the tradition established by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.