Want to lecture us on hate? Spare us: Stalin hits back at UP CM Adityanath over delimitation, three-language row | Today News

After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on the three-language row, the latter hit back on Thursday by saying, “We don’t oppose any language; we oppose imposition and chauvinism.”

Adityanath, while speaking to ANI, on Wednesday had called the row “narrow politics” and said that Stalin was trying to create divisions based on region and language because he felt his vote bank was at risk.

Responding to this, MK Stalin, in a post on X, said, “Tamil Nadu’s fair and firm voice on #TwoLanguagePolicy and #FairDelimitation is echoing nationwide—and the BJP is clearly rattled. Just watch their leaders’ interviews.”

“And now Hon’ble Yogi Adityanath wants to lecture us on hate? Spare us. This isn’t irony—it’s political black comedy at its darkest. We don’t oppose any language; we oppose imposition and chauvinism. This isn’t riot-for-votes politics. This is a battle for dignity and justice,” his post said.

What CM Yogi Adiyanath said on the three-language row

Adityanath questioned why Hindi should be hated, highlighting that it’s essential to learn every language. He emphasised that language should unite, not divide, people. He pointed out that Tamil is one of India’s oldest languages, with a rich history and heritage.

Adityanath advocated for a broader perspective, emphasising the importance of unity and inclusivity. “”I believe this is the message conveyed by our National Anthem as well. This is merely narrow politics. When these people feel their vote bank is at risk, they try to create divisions based on region and language. The people of this country should always be alert to such divisive politics and stand firm for the unity of the country,” CM Yogi Adityanath said.”

“This is merely narrow politics. When these people feel their vote bank is at risk, they try to create divisions based on region and language. The people of this country should always be alert to such divisive politics and stand firm for the unity of the country,” Adityanath said.

The three-language row has created a stalemate between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government over the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Adityanath dismissed Stalin’s concerns about delimitation, calling it a “political agenda.”

What is the three-language row

The three-language formula in NEP 2020 recommends that students learn three languages, at least two of which must be native to India. This formula applies to both government and private schools, giving states the flexibility to choose languages without any imposition.

The NEP proposes an “early implementation of the three-language formula to promote multilingualism” from the school level. However, the NEP also states that there will be greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any state.

Why is Tamil Nadu opposing it?

Tamil Nadu has historically opposed the formula. In 1937, when the Madras government had made Hindi compulsory in schools, it had sparked widespread protests, ultimately leading to the policy being revoked in 1940. However, anti-Hindi sentiments persisted.

In 1968, Tamil Nadu again opposed the three-language formula, stating it as an attempt to impose Hindi. Tamil Nadu is the only state that has never implemented the three-language formula, choosing English over Indian languages, including Hindi and other regional languages.

What is the fresh trigger?

Tamil Nadu’s refusal to implement key aspects of NEP 2020, particularly the three-language formula, has resulted in the Centre withholding ₹573 crore in central education assistance under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). According to policy rules, states must comply with NEP guidelines to receive SSA funding, of which 60 per cent is provided by the Centre to states like Tamil Nadu.

What is delimitation?

Delimitation – the redrawing of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency boundaries based on population shifts – is scheduled for 2026. The idea is to ensure that each constituency has roughly the same number of people living in it.

Delimitation impacts representation in the Parliament as well. States with larger population size get more representation that states with smaller population.