Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the memorial to Periyar on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who turned 72 on Saturday, vowed to safeguard Tamil and resist attempts to impose languages in the State.
Addressing reporters here, he said that his birthday message was “continuing the two-language policy, opposing Hindi imposition, and demanding State autonomy”.
Responding to a question on the BJP’s remarks that he was unnecessarily raking up the delimitation issue, Mr. Stalin said he was not bothered about such criticisms and was focused on securing the rights of the State.
He also administered an oath to the DMK cadre at the party’s headquarters. “The one goal is that we won’t compromise Tamil Nadu’s interests and future for anyone. We would always oppose Hindi imposition. United, we will fight for State rights. Tamil Nadu poradum, Tamil Nadu Vellum [Tamil Nadu will fight, Tamil Nadu will win],” Mr. Stalin read out the pledge.
In his fifth letter to the party cadre on language imposition, Mr. Stalin said Tamil Nadu was showing the way for other States to safeguard their mother tongue.
The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has made Punjabi mandatory in all schools across the State, regardless of their educational board affiliations, and the Congress government in Telangana has made Telugu a compulsory language from Classes 1-10. These announcements have exposed the lies being spread by the BJP government that it was implementing the three-language formula through the National Education Policy to improve the outreach of regional languages, Mr. Stalin pointed out.
The BJP’s hidden language policy is to impose Hindi and Sanskrit, and create a hatred towards regional languages, he pointed out.
Tamil Nadu exposed this hidden agenda. Twenty years ago, then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi made Tamil mandatory from Classes 1-10, Mr. Stalin added. Earlier in the day, Mr. Stalin, accompanied by Ministers, MPs and MLAs, visited the memorial to Karunanidhi and paid floral tributes.
He also visited the memorials to former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and paid homage. Mr. Stalin also visited the residences of Karunanidhi in Gopalapuram and C.I.T. Colony and paid floral tributes to the late leader’s portrait.
Leaders wish Stalin
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi and several political leaders from across the country extended their birthday greetings to Mr. Stalin.
Ms. Murmu said: “May God bless you with good health and happiness and many more years of continued and dedicated service to the nation.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Birthday greetings to Thiru M.K. Stalin Ji, CM of Tamil Nadu. May he lead a long and healthy life.”
Mr. Ravi wished the Chief Minister good health, and expressed hope that the people of Tamil Nadu received all benefits under his leadership.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said: “We continue to stand together in our commitment to preserving India’s rich diversity, federal structure, and Constitutional values.”
Published – March 01, 2025 11:46 pm IST
