Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 10: The debate over the three-language formula and the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme took center stage in the Lok Sabha on Monday, as Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused the Tamil Nadu government of reversing its stance on the agreement. While dismissing concerns about any language imposition, he reiterated that Tamil would remain the medium of instruction up to the eighth standard in the state.
Addressing reporters after a parliamentary adjournment triggered by protesting DMK MPs, Pradhan stated that opposition to the three-language formula was politically motivated. He accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of initially agreeing to sign the MoU for the PM SHRI scheme but later withdrawing at the last moment.
During the Question Hour of the Budget Session, Pradhan responded to claims by DMK MP T. Sumathy, who alleged that the Centre was withholding funds for Tamil Nadu’s schools due to the state's resistance to the National Education Policy (NEP). The minister countered the allegations, saying there were still 20 days left in the financial year, and funds would be disbursed as per regulations.
He further pointed out that Congress-led states such as Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, despite having some concerns, had aligned with the Centre in implementing the NEP under the PM SHRI scheme. Similarly, Punjab, which is governed by a non-BJP party, was cooperating with the Centre, unlike Tamil Nadu, which he accused of prioritizing politics over students’ futures.
Pradhan denied claims that the Centre was deliberately withholding funds from Tamil Nadu, citing the allocation of resources under various schemes, including the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana. However, he emphasized that for Tamil Nadu to benefit from the PM SHRI scheme, it must sign an MoU with the Union government, ensuring alignment with NEP 2020 to establish model schools.
His remarks provoked a strong reaction from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who took to social media to criticize the Union Minister. In a post on platform X, Stalin accused Pradhan of arrogance and failing to respect the views of Tamil Nadu’s elected representatives. He also alleged that the Centre was refusing to release funds while humiliating Tamil Nadu’s MPs.
The Chief Minister further questioned Pradhan’s claim, reminding him that the Tamil Nadu government had already sent the MoU, which the Union government had rejected. “Unlike you, who follow directives from Nagpur, we listen to the voices of our people,” Stalin remarked, reaffirming that Tamil Nadu would not implement the Union government’s education policies.
The escalating dispute between the Centre and Tamil Nadu underscores the broader debate over language policy and state autonomy in education, a matter that continues to fuel political tensions between regional and national leadership.