Stalin vs Pradhan at Centre, Udhayanidhi vs Annamalai in state as Tamil Nadu NEP row heats up
As Education Minister writes back to CM, local politics takes a bitter turn over DMK’s ‘Get Out Modi’ campaign.
4 min read
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (File photo)In a sharply-worded reply to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged the state government to “rise above politics” and prioritise the future of students over political narratives. The exchange of letters comes amid an escalating verbal spat between Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, 47, and BJP state president K Annamalai, 39, signalling a deepening rift between the two emerging new leaders.
The conflict between Udhayanidhi and Annamalai erupted after the BJP leader threatened the Deputy CM against the “Get Out Modi” campaign promoted by the DMK online. This prompted Udhayanidhi to challenge Annamalai to visit Chennai’s Anna Salai, also known as Mount Road.
In a fiery exchange, Annamalai shot back, demanding an exact place and time to meet “alone” and “see what happens”. Udhayanidhi’s challenge came after Annamalai dared him to verbally articulate “Get Out Modi”.
The BJP leader also accused Udhayanidhi of being a leader who “wakes up only at 11 am” and “has seen the sun only when it is above the head.” The exchanges, marked by singular address forms and personal jibes, showcased the bitterness between the two leaders.
Stalin vs Pradhan
Pradhan’s response followed Stalin’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wherein the Chief Minister had requested the immediate release of Rs 2,152 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme – a Centrally Sponsored integrated initiative for school education launched in 2018.
Stalin had strongly criticised the Union government’s alleged pressure tactics to force Tamil Nadu into implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and adopting the three-language policy, calling it a “blatant violation of cooperative federalism.”
In his letter, Pradhan said: “As leaders entrusted with shaping the destiny of our young minds, it is imperative that the state government rises above politics and prioritise policies that empower our students with knowledge, skills, and opportunities for the future.”
He described the NEP 2020 as “not just a reform but a transformative vision that seeks to elevate India’s education system to global standards while preserving and strengthening our linguistic and cultural diversity”.
Addressing concerns over language imposition, Pradhan wrote, “Let me unequivocally state that there is no question of imposing any language on any state or community. NEP 2020 upholds the principle of linguistic freedom and ensures that students continue to learn in the language of their choice.” The policy, he added, aims to “revive and strengthen the teaching of Indian languages, including Tamil, which have been gradually sidelined in formal education over the decades.”
The implications
The standoff over the Samagra Shiksha funds has practical implications for Tamil Nadu’s education sector. Stalin’s letter warned that “several vital components towards teacher salaries, student welfare programs, inclusive education initiatives, RTE reimbursements for underprivileged students, and transport for students in remote areas have been jeopardized”.
Stalin framed the issue not just as a financial impasse but as a question of upholding Tamil Nadu’s “time-tested state policies” against what he called the Centre’s “pressure tactics.”
Pradhan, however, countered this stance, suggesting that Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEP 2020 was politically motivated.
The issue may be also, directly and indirectly, affect the education sector in the state and lakhs of students. With the Samagra Shiksha funds remaining unreleased, the state’s schools and educational programs could face disruptions. Both sides, however, seem entrenched in their positions, with the centre asserting NEP 2020’s benefits and Tamil Nadu its autonomy over education policy.
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