NEP a 'saffron policy', delimitation exercise for BJP's benefit, alleges TN CM Stalin

CHENNAI: Upping the ante against the Centre on the NEP, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday alleged that it was not the National Education Policy but a "saffron policy" aimed at developing Hindi and not the nation.

Addressing a public rally, Stalin also took on the Modi government on the delimitation exercise, claiming that it was attempting to "sustain power" by winning in northern states. The BJP was trying to increase the number of MPs in states of their influence and thereby develop party, but the DMK will stop it, he asserted.

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin's "saffron policy" jibe came a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused the DMK-led state government of trying to score political brownies to "revive" the ruling party's fortunes, saying the DMK's "latest cacophony" on language imposition and its stance on NEP's three-language formula exposed their "hypocrisy".

"We oppose NEP as it will completely destroy Tamil Nadu's education growth. The NEP does not accept reservation that is social justice. This policy denies the assistance amount to SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes," Stalin alleged. The chief minister said the Centre was trying to filter students by holding public exam for classes, including 3 and 5 and the exams for classes from 9 to 12 will be semester-based and similar to All India exams.

Further, he alleged that in the name of vocational education, from class 6 onwards, they would implement "caste-based vocations." While Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says that such a policy must be accepted, the CM said he had already made it categorical that the policy shall not be accepted even if the Centre was to provide Rs 10,000 crore. Pradhan should not take a class on democracy for the Tamil people.

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Tamil Nadu CM Stalin appeals to Prime Minister Modi

Stalin said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I have an appeal! Try to develop India rather than Hindi. Sanskrit cannot be developed even if you spend thousands of crores. You will spend crores to develop a language that is not spoken by the people. Will you betray our Tamil language that is recognised in several countries and spoken by the people? On the fishermen issue, Stalin said a small country like Sri Lanka does not respect the Centre.

As many as 550 fishermen were arrested last year alone and during the past two months 130 were arrested. During the 10-year Modi rule, 3,000 fishermen were arrested. Reiterating that the proposed delimitation exercise of Parliamentary seats was a "sword" that hangs over south India, he said it was not Tamil Nadu's issue alone.

The DMK president said: "The BJP, which could not get the expected victory in southern states, wants to sustain power through wins in northern states alone and that is the conspiracy! They are trying to develop themselves by increasing the number of MPs in the states where they have influence. The DMK will stop this. We will take along all the parties of southern states and stop it."

Joint party meeting on March 22 in Chennai

Referring to the proposed Joint Action Committee on the issue of delimitation, he said he has sent letters to 29 parties in the 7 states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal and Punjab. A meeting of various parties will be held on March 22 in Chennai. "The delimitation exercise constituted a threat to federalism and democratic principles.

When the Union government does not heed to the voice of as many as 39 MPs from Tamil Nadu, if this count was reduced that will be a huge injustice to the state," he alleged. Also, the chief minister made it categorical that they would not bow to the "fascist activities" of the BJP even at the cost of their lives. "We will mobilise (muster support) the whole of India against the BJP's fascist activities."

He said such mobilisation would be on the basis of principles of social justice, secularism, federalism and state autonomy. Only such mobilisation would save India. "That is why the struggle of Tamil Nadu will fight, Tamil Nadu will win is going to become the struggle of the whole of India."

Earlier, the chief minister administered an oath to DMK cadres, which is to fight for the rights of Tamil Nadu. Similar meetings themed on "The only goal; Tamil Nadu will fight, Tamil Nadu will win," to condemn the Centre over NEP and delimitation issues were held across the state.