Allow students to learn additional language, Hindi is optional, says BJP
Dr. Tamilisai said the Central government has clarified that Hindi will not be imposed and that it will be an optional language.
Chennai: Accusing the opposition parties of needlessly politicising the three-language policy in the State, BJP State president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said students should be allowed to learn an additional language, as this would only broaden their perspective and opportunities, as well.
“I feel Tamil Nadu should have a three-language system of education. I am not insisting only upon Hindi but an optional third language. Learning a third language will give students better opportunities and improve their social skills,” Dr. Tamilisai said.
She said the Central government has clarified that Hindi will not be imposed and that it will be an optional language. Despite the clarification, the opposition parties in the State are spreading a misinformation campaign on the three-language policy, she said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters here after attending a consultation meeting with her colleagues in the core committee, post the April Lok Sabha elections, Dr. Tamilisai replied in response to a question, “It is a good suggestion that Tamil should be taught in other States also.”
On the three students who committed suicide in the State after the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) results were announced, the BJP president said that she requested the students not to resort to this extreme measure. “There is always an opportunity next time,” she added.
The BJP leader lashed out at the opposition party leaders in Tamil Nadu for demoralising the students and said even to this day DMK president M. K. Stalin talks about scrapping NEET. “How is this possible to exempt Tamil Nadu when there is a Supreme Court verdict on the issue,” she said rather than encourage the NEET candidates, the leaders resorted to making speeches that only made the students lose their confidence.
Tamil Nadu has done fairly well and there is a ten per cent increase in the intake of students from the State. As a doctor, she personally supported NEET, she added.