Pawan Kalyan’s remarks come amid Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accusing the central government of ‘imposing Hindi’ and refusing to implement the three-language formula of the National Education Policy (NEP).
Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh):
Amid the ongoing language row between the Central government and Tamil Nadu, Janasena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Friday stressed the need to preserve India’s linguistic diversity, saying the country needs “not just two but many languages, including Tamil.”
Addressing party workers at an event in Kakinada district, Mr. Kalyan said, “India needs many languages, including Tamil, and not just two. We must embrace linguistic diversity – not only to maintain the integrity of our country, but also to promote love and unity among its people.”
Mr. was speaking at the 12th foundation day celebrations of the Janasena Party at Pithapuram town in Kalyan district.
Mr Kalyan’s remarks came amid Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accusing the Central government of “imposing Hindi” and refusing to implement the three-language formula of the National Education Policy (NEP).
Taking a dig at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) without directly naming it, Mr Kalyan accused Tamil Nadu politicians of hypocrisy and said they oppose Hindi but allow Tamil films to be dubbed into Hindi for financial gains.
Mr Kalyan asked, “I don’t understand why some people criticise Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi, while allowing their films to be dubbed into Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood, but refuse to accept Hindi – what kind of logic is this?”
Earlier on Friday, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai reiterated the party’s stand on the three-language policy, saying people of the state don’t want a third language to be imposed on them but are willing to learn it voluntarily. “We have been consistently saying there is a need for a third language. Over 14 lakh people have signed in sign language. People of Tamil Nadu don’t want
a compulsory third language being imposed on them, like Hindi – which the Congress did in 1965,” Annamalai told ANI.
He accused the DMK of adopting double standards and said that Hindi was taught in private schools run by DMK leaders but not in government schools.
“People voluntarily want to learn a third language, which is optional. Tamil Nadu is ready, only the DMK is not ready. All private schools run by the DMK teach a third language, they teach Hindi . Why don’t they want government school students to learn a third language?” he questioned.
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