Daijiworld Media Network- Chennai

Chennai, Mar 6: Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin has once again taken a strong stance against what he termed as "Hindi chauvinism," asserting that demanding linguistic equality is not an act of chauvinism but a rightful claim.

Taking to social media, Stalin hit out at those branding Tamil proponents as "chauvinists and anti-nationals." He stated, "When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression. I am reminded of this famous quote when some entitled bigots’ brand us chauvinists and anti-nationals for the 'crime' of demanding Tamil’s rightful place in Tamil Nadu."

The DMK chief did not hold back in his criticism of right-wing ideology, asserting that those who glorify Nathuram Godse’s ideology have no moral standing to question the patriotism of his party and government. He pointed out, "The very people who glorify Godse's ideology have the audacity to question the patriotism of DMK and its government, which contributed the highest amount of funds during the Chinese aggression, Bangladesh liberation war, and Kargil war, while their ideological forefather is the one who assassinated 'Bapu' Gandhi."

Further sharpening his attack, Stalin said that the imposition of Hindi is a blatant display of linguistic chauvinism. He remarked, "Do you want to know what chauvinism looks like? Chauvinism is naming the three criminal laws that govern 140 crore citizens in a language that Tamils cannot even pronounce or comprehend by reading. Chauvinism is treating the state that contributes the most to the nation as second-class citizens and denying its fair share for refusing to swallow the poison called #NEP."

Warning against forced imposition, the Tamil Nadu CM said that such actions only create enmity and threaten national unity. He concluded by declaring, "The true chauvinists and anti-nationals are the Hindi zealots who believe their entitlement is natural but our resistance is treason."

The remarks come amid the ongoing political row over language imposition, with Tamil Nadu's ruling party continuing to oppose any form of Hindi dominance.