Rameshwaram: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed a pointed remark at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin amidst the ongoing debate over language, noting that while he receives numerous letters from leaders in Tamil Nadu, none are signed in Tamil. He emphasized that if they genuinely take pride in their language, they should at least sign their names in Tamil.
“The government is diligently working to promote the Tamil language and its heritage globally. I am often taken aback when I receive correspondence from certain Tamil Nadu leaders—none of which are signed in Tamil. If we truly value Tamil, I encourage everyone to sign their names in the language,” PM Modi stated during a rally in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.
The DMK government, led by MK Stalin, and the central government have been embroiled in a heated exchange, with the state accusing the BJP-led Centre of attempting to impose Hindi. The latest point of contention has been the three-language policy outlined in the New Education Policy (NEP), which the state claims jeopardizes Tamil language and culture.
Additionally, the Prime Minister called on the Tamil Nadu government to offer medical courses in Tamil to assist children from underprivileged backgrounds.
“I urge the Tamil Nadu government to initiate medical courses in the Tamil language so that even children from economically disadvantaged families can achieve their aspirations of becoming doctors. Our goal is to ensure that the youth of our nation do not need to travel abroad to pursue medical careers. Over the past decade, Tamil Nadu has established 11 new medical colleges,” he remarked in Rameswaram, following the inauguration of India’s vertical sea lift bridge, the New Pambam Bridge.
The government of Tamil Nadu has accused the central government of withholding funds intended for the state, recently asserting that more than Rs 2,000 crore allocated for education has been blocked due to Tamil Nadu’s refusal to accept the New Education Policy. In response, Prime Minister Modi rejected these claims, stating that the allocation of funds from the Centre has significantly increased under the BJP-led NDA administration, and that Tamil Nadu has reaped the benefits of various central initiatives.
“The development of Tamil Nadu’s infrastructure is a primary focus for the government. Over the last ten years, the state’s rail budget has surged more than seven times. Despite this remarkable increase, some individuals continue to voice unfounded complaints. Prior to 2014, the annual allocation was merely Rs 900 crore. In contrast, this year, Tamil Nadu’s rail budget has surpassed Rs 6,000 crore. Furthermore, the Indian government is in the process of modernizing 77 railway stations, including the one in Rameswaram,” he stated.
In a related development, MK Stalin did not attend the inauguration of the Pamban Bridge. While speaking at a rally in Ooty, he called on the Prime Minister to provide a definitive assurance that Tamil Nadu and other states that have effectively managed population growth will not face penalties in the upcoming delimitation process, and that their proportional representation in parliamentary seats will remain intact.
