NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday criticized the BJP, urging them to take meaningful steps to support Tamil rather than engaging in symbolic acts like installing Sengol. He called on the central government to make Tamil an official language, stop Hindi imposition, and focus on Tamil Nadu’s development.
Taking to social media platform X, Stalin questioned the BJP-led central government’s commitment to Tamil culture despite its claims. He wrote, “If the BJP’s claim that our Hon’ble PM has great love for Tamil is true, why is it never reflected in action?”
Stalin asserted that concrete steps should be prioritised over symbolic gestures. “Rather than installing Sengol in Parliament, uninstall Hindi from Union Government offices in Tamil Nadu. Instead of hollow praise, make Tamil an official language on par with Hindi and allot more funds for Tamil than a dead language like Sanskrit,” he stated.
He also criticized efforts to promote Sanskrit and Hindi in the state, saying, “Stop the desperate attempts to saffronise Thiruvalluvar and declare his timeless classic, Thirukkural, as India’s National Book.”
Stalin further highlighted that quoting Thirukkural in the Union Budget was not enough and urged the Centre to implement practical measures. “Honour them by ensuring special schemes, a prompt disaster relief fund, and new railway projects for Tamil Nadu,” he said.
He also expressed displeasure over the use of Sanskrit in government projects and schemes in Tamil Nadu. “Stop wasting taxpayers’ money on the nonsense of ‘Hindi Pakhwadas’ in Tamil Nadu. End the absurdity of imposing Sanskrit names like Antyodaya, Tejas, and Vande Bharat on Tamil Nadu’s trains. Revert to the practice of naming them in Tamil, like Chemmozhi, Muthunagar, Vaigai, Malaikottai, Thirukkural Express, etc.”
Stalin concluded by emphasizing that genuine support for Tamil should be demonstrated through actions, not mere words. “Love for Tamil is proven through deeds, not deception,” he said.
Meanwhile, BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai responded to Stalin’s remarks, questioning his efforts to promote Tamil beyond the state’s borders. He wrote on X, “What were your achievements in propagating our Tamil language beyond the borders of TN while in power in the State and the Centre? Did anyone obstruct DMK from doing it?”
Annamalai also pointed out that the Tamil Development Centre program was started by the previous AIADMK government and questioned Stalin’s role in continuing it. “What efforts have you taken to roll out the Tamil Development Centre programme commenced by the previous AIADMK regime?”
He further accused Stalin of wanting to restrict Tamil’s growth. “The matter is not about your demands; you have always wished that Tamil remain confined within the borders of our State,” Annamalai said.
Additionally, he compared Stalin’s efforts with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that Modi had taken greater initiatives to promote Tamil language and culture beyond Tamil Nadu. “Have you at least taken half the effort taken by our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl to spread the richness of Tamil language and culture beyond TN?” he asked.
