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Stalin Backs Thackeray Rally, Calls Hindi Pushback a Storm of Protest
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has strongly endorsed the joint rally by Uddhav and Raj Thackeray in Mumbai, framing it as a pivotal moment in the growing nationwide resistance to Hindi imposition. Hailing the event as a “storm of protest,” Stalin drew parallels between Maharashtra’s mobilization and Tamil Nadu’s decades-long defiance of forced language policies.
Resistance Goes National
Stalin emphasized that what began as a regional pushback in Tamil Nadu has now turned into a national awakening. He declared that “the protest waged generation after generation by the people of Tamil Nadu is now swirling like a storm of protest in Maharashtra,” a statement that signals broader southern solidarity with emerging movements in the west of India.
Challenging the Hindi-Job Link
Stalin echoed Raj Thackeray’s argument that the association of Hindi with upward mobility is misleading. He pointedly questioned why states where Hindi is the dominant language continue to lag in economic growth if knowledge of Hindi truly opens doors to opportunity. His remarks directly challenge the Centre’s claim that the three-language formula enhances employability and access.
Allegation of Financial Coercion
In a sharper accusation, Stalin revealed that the Centre had withheld over ₹2,100 crore in education funds to Tamil Nadu as a punitive measure for not implementing the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which mandates the three-language policy. He condemned this as an example of using economic pressure to enforce cultural conformity and warned that such methods would be fiercely resisted.
Tamil Nadu’s Stand: No Hindi, No Sanskrit
Reasserting Tamil Nadu’s commitment to its two-language policy of Tamil and English, Stalin made it clear that the state will not buckle under political or financial pressure. “Tamil Nadu will fight and win,” he declared, reinforcing his stance with the now viral campaign call: #StopHindiImposition.tra.
