Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 25 (ANI): Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Tuesday staunchly defended the state's language policy, invoking the legacy of late DMK leader M Karunanidhi while addressing concerns over the triple language policy under the New Education Policy (NEP).

Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Anbil Mahesh said, 'All members have been insisting on an important issue. As per DMK, it's our leader Karunanidhi who introduced the Tamil Thai Valthu (Tamil anthem), the Thirukural in government buses, the Valluvar Kootam constructed by him, a separate department for Tamil language development, government orders in Tamil, and made Tamil a classical language.'

Highlighting Karunanidhi's contributions, he challenged, 'There are 122 big languages in India and 1,599 languages in total. Search across India to see if anyone else worked to save their mother tongue like our leader Karunanidhi did.'

The minister's remarks came in response to Opposition Deputy Leader RB Udayakumar, who raised concerns over a letter from Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary to the Union Government, suggesting ambiguity and hinting that the state might have accepted the NEP's triple language policy.

Mahesh clarified the state's stance, saying, 'Our Chief Secretary specifically wrote that, based on the recommendation of a Union committee, we will form a state-level committee headed by the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department. Based on that committee's recommendations, we will decide. The committee has not accepted anything yet.' He reiterated the DMK's commitment to the path laid by Karunanidhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, adding, 'We don't need money (funds). That's why our CM said if we take your (Union Government's) 2,000 crore rupees, it would be a sin to drag Tamil society 2,000 years back. We don't want that scheme, even if you offer 10,000 crore.'

Taking a swipe at the BJP, the minister criticised their 'equal education' signature campaign, saying, 'Here in our state, a party (BJP) campaigns in the name of equal education. It's our leader, Karunanidhi, who brought equal education to our soil... It's a double-standard act by the national party members. I severely condemn this.'

Anbil Mahesh hinted at an impending major announcement from CM Stalin, noting, 'The statement to be announced by our Chief Minister will be a big one--an eager expectation not just for me but for all Tamil people.'

The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has locked horns with the Central government over the three-language formula proposed in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the delimitation exercise. (ANI)