March 7, 2025: The debate over the alleged imposition of Hindi under the National Education Policy (NEP) in Tamil Nadu has intensified, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firing back at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for his recent remarks.

The controversy erupted after Stalin likened the NEP to “an LKG student lecturing a PhD holder,” arguing that Tamil Nadu had already achieved many of the policy's objectives. Responding sharply, BJP state chief K Annamalai criticized Stalin for what he called “swinging paper words against the delusional Hindi imposition.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also weighed in on the matter while speaking at the 56th Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Ranipet, about 70 km from Chennai. Shah highlighted that the Narendra Modi-led government had brought changes to allow aspirants to write CISF recruitment exams in their regional languages, including Tamil.

"I appeal to the Tamil Nadu chief minister to start engineering and medical education in Tamil for the benefit of students," Shah added, emphasizing the Centre’s commitment to regional languages while dismissing allegations of Hindi imposition.

The exchange marks the latest chapter in the ongoing tussle between the BJP-led Centre and the DMK government, which has consistently opposed any perceived efforts to impose Hindi in the state’s education system. With the Lok Sabha elections approaching, the language debate is expected to remain a key political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu.