Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai has bashed on the DMK’s stance against the National Education Policy (NEP), countering their anti-national education narrative. Speaking at a public meeting in Trichy on 23 March 2025, organized by the Tamil Nadu BJP to explain the new education policy, Annamalai emphasized the massive public support for the signature campaign launched by the BJP. He revealed that the campaign had already gathered 27 lakh signatures in just 18 days, with a goal of reaching 1 crore signatures by the end of May.
Refuting the DMK’s claims, Annamalai reminded the public that education policies in India were not introduced by the BJP. He explained that the first National Education Policy (NEP) was implemented in 1968, followed by the second in 1986, which was later revised. The current NEP, introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is only the third in independent India’s history.
A committee was formed under PM Modi’s directive to revise and modernize the education system, and its recommendations were submitted in 2019. One of its key proposals was that students should study in their mother tongue from Classes 1 to 5, a practice that has led to remarkable educational progress in countries like Japan, China, and Germany. Despite Tamil being recognized as the primary language of instruction under the NEP, the DMK deliberately misleads the public, refusing to acknowledge this.
Furthermore, the policy aimed to extend Tamil-medium instruction to Classes 6, 7, and 8, while recommending that students learn an additional Indian language instead of making Hindi mandatory. Contrary to DMK’s accusations, it was actually the Congress-DMK alliance that had historically imposed Hindi when they were in power.
In a fiery attack, Annamalai criticized several DMK ministers, questioning whether those with criminal backgrounds and corrupt histories should have any say in shaping Tamil Nadu’s education policies.
He pointed out that Tamil Nadu’s Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, seemed more interested in promoting Udhayanidhi Stalin than focusing on education. Mocking his priorities, Annamalai called him the ‘real leader’ of the Akhil Ulaga Udhayanidhi Fan Club, stating that instead of working for education reforms, he spends his time organizing events for Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Annamalai said, “Why don’t the DMK members understand the power because no one earned it through studies. Sister Tamilisai said, ‘Look at this! I studied and passed in how many subjects.’ Do we know if Udhayanidhi Stalin has a degree? We don’t know. Where did he study? Unknown. Who wrote his exam papers? Unknown. The Education Minister of Tamil Nadu, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, hails from this town, yet he seems to have a more important responsibility than this (overseeing education). He is the leader of the Akhil Ulaga Udhayanidhi Fan Club. I’m not saying this for applause. The real head of Agila Ulaga Udhayanidhi Fan Club (Global Udhyanidhi Fan Club) Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. He spends his time organizing song launch events, following Udhayanidhi Stalin around. After all this, if he finds any spare time, he might talk about the education department. But what do they actually know about education? Think about it. Do they know what your children should study? They don’t.”
Highlighting the tainted pasts of DMK’s Textile Minister R. Gandhi, Annamalai said, “Take an individual named Gandhi—one might assume he is like (Mahatma) Gandhi. But in the 1990s, he was jailed under the Goondas Act for brewing bootleg liquor and later became the Minister Gandhi. Look at the history of each.”
Calling out DMK Minister Prohibition and Excise, He said, “Senthil Balaji who jumped five parties and become Liquor Minister. He served one and a half years in jail. Who knows if he’ll serve another five or ten years? Yet, he is a minister.”
Then taking out the DMK Minsiter of HR&CE, He said, “Then there’s Sekar Babu, the Minister of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department . He was once in the Chennai’s rowdy sheeter. A person whose name was in the rowdy history register is now Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. Can you imagine? Will the country prosper this way?”
Taking out on DMK’s Law Regupathy, He said, “Minister Regupathy, from a neighboring district, has an ongoing case against him for amassing assets beyond his income. He is in charge of the Prisons & Law Department. Think about it—Will the country prosper this way?”
Annamalai warned that criminals and corrupt politicians deciding education policies would only lead to disaster, saying, “Look at the history of each and every minister. These joint thieves, are coming together to decide what our children should study. If a rowdy teaches a class, we will get rowdy students. If a good teacher teaches, we will get good students. These thieves who have been to jail, looted public money, been a rowdy, and engaged in bootlegging are discussing about how Tamil Nadu’s education policy should be, Will you agree to that?”
Annamalai emphasized that while the educational vision of Karmaveer Kamaraj, the policies of MGR, and the reforms introduced by Prime Minister Modi can be respected and accepted, an education system shaped by corrupt politicians, criminals, and lawbreakers cannot be trusted.
He urged the people of Tamil Nadu to reject the DMK’s misleading propaganda and support an education system built on merit and integrity.
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