NEW DELHI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi has filed a notice for breach of parliamentary privilege against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The notice pertains to remarks made by Pradhan in Parliament regarding Tamil Nadu’s education system and its stance on the three-language policy.
The controversy erupted when Pradhan reportedly referred to Tamil Nadu MPs as “uncivilised” during a parliamentary discussion. Kanimozhi, deeply agitated by the comments, has called the term “uncivilised” a derogatory and unparliamentary expression. She argued that such remarks were unacceptable, especially when directed at elected representatives.
Speaking to the media, Kanimozhi said, “The words that have been used against our CM and our MPs are terrible… ‘Uncivilised’ is not a word we can use even against any human being in this country. It is the most derogatory word that can be used. We have given notice, and I think this will not end with this… BJP is having a problem looking at the southern states’ growth because they are not able to achieve it”.
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Kanimozhi further expressed her discontent over the central government’s handling of the three-language policy. The three-language policy, which proposes teaching three languages in schools across India, has been a contentious issue, especially in southern states like Tamil Nadu, where English and Tamil have been the preferred languages of instruction. The DMK has been vocal about its opposition to imposing Hindi as part of the curriculum, calling it an unnecessary burden for students.
In her statement, Kanimozhi also highlighted the disparity in development between southern and northern states, particularly in the context of population control. “Southern India has been meticulously following the family planning, and we are at the penalising point now. Now, all the CMs have started saying you increased the population. What are we looking forward to?… There are so many states with poverty, lack of education, and lack of electricity in the interiors of northern India. We are able to provide quality education, quality food, and quality of life. It’s time that the central government learns to implement this in the states that have not been using it and penalise them for not using it,” she said.
Kanimozhi’s comments come in the wake of increasing tension between the southern states and the central government regarding the National Education Policy (NEP). Tamil Nadu, along with other states, has been resisting the imposition of Hindi in schools, arguing that it goes against the spirit of federalism and the autonomy of states to decide their own educational priorities. Tamil Nadu has long followed a two-language policy, where Tamil and English are the mediums of instruction.
The DMK leader also raised concerns about the proposed delimitation exercise, which could potentially affect the allocation of parliamentary seats. Kanimozhi stated that the southern states fear a reduction in their representation, while northern states with larger populations might gain more seats. She criticized the refusal of the Speaker to allow a debate on the issue, further intensifying her concerns about the potential political consequences of the exercise.
“We had given notice under Rule 267 for discussing the delimitation, which is taking a toll on the southern states of India, which was refused by the chair… We are asking for a healthy discussion on delimitation… We want to know what is going to be the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), what the government is going to do”, Kanimozhi added.
Addressing the remarks made by Pradhan regarding Tamil Nadu’s adherence to the NEP, Kanimozhi emphasized that the state was not against the policy but had concerns over the imposition of Hindi. She pointed out that Tamil Nadu had a robust education system that was not dependent on the addition of another language, especially one that many students found difficult to learn.
“We are not against any language… We are saying that it is a state subject, so don’t indulge in the imposition of Hindi, which is a language spoken by a part of people in India,” she remarked. “We have been following two language policies in Tamil Nadu: English and Tamil. We are good in our education… Our GDP is good. All people from Tamil Nadu have settled abroad. We bring in funds from outside. Our education system is good. In what way have we gone wrong?… Why do you want to force a language into the curriculum which is going to be tough for the kids?” (ANI)
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