Pawan Kalyan Criticizes DMK Amid Language Row: Calls for Linguistic Diversity

 Amid the ongoing language debate between the Union government and Tamil Nadu, Janasena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan voiced his strong support for India's linguistic diversity, stating that the country needs multiple languages, including Tamil, rather than limiting itself to just two.

Speaking at the Janasena Party’s 12th foundation day celebration in Pithapuram town, Kakinada district, Pawan Kalyan emphasized the necessity of embracing multiple languages to maintain national integrity and foster unity among people. His remarks come in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s accusations of ‘Hindi imposition’ by the Union government and his refusal to implement the National Education Policy (NEP)’s three-language formula.

Without directly naming the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Pawan Kalyan took a veiled dig at Tamil Nadu politicians, accusing them of hypocrisy. He pointed out that while they strongly oppose Hindi, they allow Tamil films to be dubbed in Hindi for commercial benefits.

“I do not understand why some criticize Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi—what kind of logic is that?” he questioned while addressing party workers in Kakinada.

The remarks by Pawan Kalyan have sparked further discussions in the ongoing language debate, particularly with the DMK’s consistent stance against the perceived imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu. The three-language policy proposed by the Union government has remained a contentious issue, with Tamil Nadu leaders rejecting it outright in favor of continuing with their long-standing two-language system of Tamil and English in schools.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai also weighed in on the debate, reiterating the party’s support for a third-language policy. He noted that while Tamil Nadu residents do not want a third language forced upon them, many are open to learning one voluntarily.

“We are continuously saying that there is a need for a third language. More than 14 lakh people have signed in the signature campaign. People of Tamil Nadu don’t want a compulsory third language imposed on them, like Hindi, which Congress attempted in 1965,” Annamalai said.

He further accused the DMK of double standards, alleging that private schools run by DMK leaders offer Hindi as an option, while government schools do not.

“People willingly want to learn a third language, which should be optional. Tamil Nadu is ready, but only the DMK is not. All the private schools run by the DMK teach a third language; they teach Hindi. Why do they not want government school students to learn a third language?” Annamalai questioned.

With Pawan Kalyan’s latest remarks, the language row has once again become a major talking point in Indian politics. As regional and national parties continue to debate the issue, the discussion on language policies and linguistic diversity remains crucial in shaping India’s educational and cultural landscape.