DMK warns of ‘democratic’ protest if two-language policy is threatened

Chennai: The opposition DMK on Monday warned that it will ‘democratically fight tooth and nail’ if the Centre attempts to change the two-language policy in Tamil Nadu. It cautioned the BJP-led government at the Centre not to play with the sentiments of the Tamil people.

A resolution passed at a meeting of the party’s MPs and MLAs besides district secretaries here said it would launch a massive protest against the centre if it imposed Hindi. The resolution cautioned the BJP-led government at the Centre not to play with the sentiments of the Tamil people. Since 1968, after the DMK stormed to power in 1967 under the leadership of Dravidian stalwart and party founder C N Annadurai, a two-language formula of Tamil and English was being followed in the state. The meet took note that after opposition erupted against the draft National Education Policy, Union Ministers had clarified that it was only a proposal and any decision will be taken only after consultations with stakeholders.

The Centre on Monday dropped the contentious provision of mandatory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states, as it issued a revised draft education policy amid outrage over its earlier suggestion.

After presiding over the meeting, DMK president M K Stalin tweeted: “At a time when we are celebrating the birth anniversary of Thalaivar (leader) Kalaignar (late Karunanidhi), the Central government withdrawing the Hindi compulsory subject clause shows that Kalaignar is living." "Let us guard mother Tamil always breaking up the hegemonic imposition of Hindi," he said.

Another resolution wanted the withdrawal of Hydrocarbon projects in Cauvery delta districts and sought the districts to be declared as a "Protected Agricultural Zone," in deference to the views of farmers who oppose it. The meet said it strongly condemned the "anti-farmer attitude," of the BJP government and the ruling AIADMK regime for backing the Centre on Hydrocarbon initiatives.