Summary:
The draft policy, which makes Hindi a compulsory language in non-Hindi speaking states, was prepared by a panel led by eminent scientist K Kasturirangan and was unveiled on Friday.
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NEW DELHI: Political parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK on Saturday strongly opposed the three-language formula proposed in the draft National Education Policy alleging it was tantamount to "thrusting" Hindi and wanted it junked.
The draft policy, which makes Hindi a compulsory language in non-Hindi speaking states, was prepared by a panel led by eminent scientist K Kasturirangan and was unveiled on Friday.
The issue took Twitter by storm with hashtags like #StopHindiImposition and #TNagainstHindiimposition being tweeted more than 1.5 lakh times.
The hashtags were trending in top two slots nationally.
The three-language formula which bats for Hindi from "pre-school to class 12 is a big shocker," and the recommendation would "divide" the country, DMK chief MK Stalin said."In Tamil Nadu, having a two-language policy, is like honeycomb and BJP is trying to throw a stone at it by inflicting a three-language policy again.
I warn the Centre that there will be a disaster if it tries to implement the three-language formula in Tamil Nadu.
There are a few good things in the new education policy but all those will be forgotten if the language policy is implemented,” Stalin said in a statement.He said the newly elected MPs of the party will take up the issue in the Lok Sabha soon after it is convened and will not deter until it is recalled.
He urged the chief minister to oppose the policy.
“Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, instead of bowing to the NDA government, must oppose the new education policy publicly,” said Stalin.However, dismissing the fear of Hindi imposition, I&B minister Prakash Javadekar said there was no intention of imposing any language on anybody.
"We want to promote all Indian languages.
It`s a draft prepared by committee, which will be decided by the government after getting public feedback," he added.