Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Thursday, 13 March 2025, took aim at state minister Dr. P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) over the ongoing debate on the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In a lengthy social media post, Annamalai accused PTR of hypocrisy, highlighting that his children were educated under a bilingual system that did not include any Indian languages.

PTR had previously stated that his sons studied under the two-language policy, but Annamalai pointed out that the languages in question were English and French/Spanish, rather than Tamil or any other Indian language. “Is this your bilingual policy?” Annamalai questioned, flagging what he called the DMK’s double standards on language education. On his X handle, Annamalai wrote, “I asked Minister @ptrmadurai for his response to a question I asked at a press conference yesterday. He has said that his two sons were educated under the dual language policy. However, his brother Mr. PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan forgot to tell him which two languages ​​they were. The two languages ​​his sons learned, First language: English Second language: French/Spanish. Is this your bilingual policy? We are asking for a national education policy that will provide our government school students with the opportunity to learn a third Indian language, along with Tamil and English, or a foreign language at the higher levels. Why all this drama to stop that? I sincerely wish my brother PTR and his two sons the best in life. We ask that the opportunity to learn many languages ​​that they have had should also be extended to the children of the poor and needy studying in our government schools.”

நேற்று நான் பத்திரிக்கையாளர்கள் சந்திப்பில் கேட்ட கேள்விக்கு, அமைச்சர் திரு @ptrmadurai அவர்கள் அளித்திருக்கும் பதிலைக் கேட்டேன்.

தனது இரு மகன்களும் இரு மொழிக் கொள்கையில்தான் படித்தார்கள் என்று கூறியிருக்கிறார். ஆனால், அந்த இரு மொழிகள் எவை என்பதை, அண்ணன் திரு. பிடிஆர் பழனிவேல்…

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 13, 2025

Tamil Nadu vs Centre: The Language Policy Clash

The Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the three-language formula, arguing that the state’s existing two-language system (Tamil and English) has been successful. Criticizing the Centre’s approach, PTR called the three-language policy a “failed model”, questioning why Tamil Nadu should replace a working system with one that has not succeeded elsewhere. He said, “Two language policy has been implemented successfully here and if you ask us to change it, will someone with wisdom follow it?”

PTR argued that the problem would not exist if English education were strengthened in northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He also insisted that the Centre has “no authority or right to impose any language,” echoing Chief Minister MK Stalin’s stance, who had earlier called the NEP a “destructive Nagpur plan.”

In response, Annamalai said, “Where is PTR’s son studying? He has to say that, he keeps talking everywhere and met with press at Madurai. He used the word “people with wisdom”. When a minister says that people with wisdom will not accept it, I have a question for the minister. Is your son an Indian citizen or an American citizen? Which school is your son studying in? If he is studying in a school that follows a 3-language policy, doesn’t it mean that you have no wisdom? Is PTR looking in the mirror and talking? As far as TN is concerned, all the ministers’ children and grandchildren are all studying in schools offering 3 languages.”

Annamalai countered that the three-language policy would benefit government school students, allowing them to learn a third Indian language alongside Tamil and English. He accused the DMK of creating unnecessary controversy over the issue, saying, “Why all this drama to stop that?”

தேவையில்லாம வாய குடுத்து வாங்கி கட்டுறதே வேலையா போச்சு 😂💥#Annamalai | #DMKFailsTN pic.twitter.com/Sardzp3X9d

— ᴋᴀʀᴛʜɪ (@TwitzKarthi) March 12, 2025

Under NEP 2020, students at the secondary level can also opt for foreign languages such as Korean, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish in addition to Indian languages and English. However, Tamil Nadu has refused to implement the policy, arguing that it is a step toward Hindi imposition.

The standoff between the state and Centre has had financial repercussions, with the DMK government alleging that the Union government is withholding ₹573 crore in education assistance under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). However, it is essential to note that as per SSA regulations, states must comply with NEP guidelines to receive the funding, of which 60% is provided by the Centre.

(With inputs from Business Today)

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