Draft New Educational Policy 2019 being submitted to the HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank by the Drafting Committee Friday. (Source: Twitter/HRDMinistry) Draft New Educational Policy 2019 being submitted to the HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank by the Drafting Committee Friday. (Source: Twitter/HRDMinistry)

After political parties in Tamil Nadu protested over the recommendations of new draft education policy submitted to the government that suggested making Hindi a mandatory third language in schools, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said the Centre has no intentions of imposing any language on anybody.

“Committee has submitted its report to Ministry, it’s not the policy. Public feedback will be sought, it’s a misunderstanding that it has become a policy. No language will be imposed on any state,” the HRD minister was quoted as saying by ANI. His predecessor Prakash Javadekar too supported his statement, saying that the government will decide on the policy after getting public feedback. Read in Tamil

DMK chief M K Stalin opposed the draft policy’s recommendations, saying that his party will express their strong opposition in the parliament. (PTI Photo) DMK chief M K Stalin opposed the draft policy’s recommendations, saying that his party will express their strong opposition in the parliament. (PTI Photo)

The Draft New Educational Policy 2019 submitted to the HRD ministry Friday coincided with new HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank taking charge of his office. A committee led by former ISRO chairman Dr K Kasturirangan recommended the teaching of Hindi, English and one regional language in the non-Hindi states. For Hindi-speaking states, the committee recommended the teaching of Hindi, English and one of the modern Indian languages from other parts of the country. Tamil has been put into the category of classical languages by the ministry and it has not been made clear which languages fall into the modern language’s domain.

DMK chief M K Stalin opposed the draft policy’s recommendations, saying that his party will express their strong opposition in the parliament.

DMK leader T Siva in Trichy said the attempt to force Hindi language on people of Tamil Nadu will not be tolerated by people. “We are ready to face any consequences to stop Hindi language being forced on the people here,” ANI quoted him as saying.

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan said, “I have acted in many Hindi films, in my opinion, Hindi language should not be imposed on anyone.”

Though there was no official word on the matter from the ruling AIADMK, which is in alliance with the BJP in state, Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan said there will be no deviation from the two-language formula followed in the state. “There will be no deviation from the two-language formula followed in Tamil Nadu. Only Tamil and English will continue to be taught in our State,” PTI quoted him as saying

Hashtags #TNAgainstHindiImposition and #StopHindiImposition started trending on Twitter. The two hashtags had generated over 1.5 lakh tweets.

Tamil Nadu has for over 80 years opposed the imposition of Hindi as a mandatory language in the state.

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