Tamil Nadu CM Stalin slams union education minister over NEP dispute

New Delhi, Mar 10: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly criticised Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday after the minister called the Tamil Nadu government “dishonest” and accused it of “ruining” students’ futures. Stalin hit back, saying Pradhan acts like a king and speaks arrogantly.

Stalin’s response on social media

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin, writing in Tamil, as reported and translated by media by media said Tamil Nadu is unwilling to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) and no one can force the state to do so. “The Union Education Minister, who thinks of himself as a king and speaks arrogantly, needs to be disciplined!” Stalin wrote, tagging @dpradhanbjp. He accused Pradhan of being disrespectful to Tamil Nadu MPs and questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported such statements. “Mr. Pradhan, we act based on the people’s wishes, not by following orders from Nagpur! We will not implement your policy, and no one can force us. Just answer this: Will you release the funds meant for Tamil Nadu students from our taxes?” he added.

Pradhan’s remarks in parliament

During the Lok Sabha session, Pradhan alleged that the Tamil Nadu government initially agreed to the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme but later changed its stance. This scheme, which aims to improve schools across India, requires states to sign an MoU agreeing to implement the NEP 2020 in exchange for central funding. “Tamil Nadu first agreed to sign the MoU but later changed its stand. Many non-BJP-ruled states like Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh have signed the agreement,” Pradhan said as reported by PTI. He went on to accuse the DMK government of “playing politics” and “misleading” the people. “They are being dishonest and ruining students’ futures. They are undemocratic,” Pradhan claimed.

DMK’s protest and parliament disruption

Pradhan’s remarks angered DMK MPs, who protested strongly in Parliament, leading to an adjournment of proceedings for about 30 minutes. Speaker Om Birla urged them to return to their seats, saying protests were setting a bad precedent. When the session resumed, DMK MP Kanimozhi said she was deeply hurt by Pradhan’s words. “We have clearly told the minister that we cannot accept the NEP or the three-language policy. The Chief Minister has written to both the minister and the Prime Minister about this and requested funds,” she said. Pradhan responded by saying, “If any of my words hurt Tamil Nadu MPs or people, I withdraw them.” However, he stood by his claim that the state had initially agreed but later backed out. “They informed me that their Chief Minister had given his consent. But later, something changed,” he said. The Speaker then directed that Pradhan’s controversial remarks be removed from the records.

Tamil Nadu has strongly opposed the NEP, arguing that it threatens social justice and promotes Hindi at the cost of regional languages. Last month, Stalin said the state would reject the policy even if the Centre offered Rs 10,000 crore in funding. The PM SHRI scheme, with a budget of Rs 27,360 crore over five years, aims to upgrade 12,079 schools across India. However, Tamil Nadu has refused to sign the MoU, citing its opposition to the NEP. With just weeks left in the financial year, the Centre has indicated that Tamil Nadu still has time to reconsider. But Stalin remains firm in his stance, making it clear that the state will not compromise on its education policies.