Union minister hits back at TN govt amid NEP row

Some friends in TN are doing politics... Centre committed to implement NEP

- DHARMENDRA PRADHAN, Union education minister

NEW DELHI: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday dismissed Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin's opposition to the three-language formula, which makes it mandatory for every school student to study at least three languages under National Education Policy (NEP), terming it as "political".

He said that he respects all languages and there is no imposition of Hindi, English or any other language in Tamil Nadu.

Pradhan said that the central government was implementing NEP with the aim to promote a level-playing field for students while respecting linguistic diversity.

"We all accept NEP, but they are not accepting the idea because of their political interest. I know education is in concurrent list but to create competition among students, to create a level-playing field, we have to come to a common platform. NEP is the new aspirational common platform. I respect all languages. This NEP, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is giving emphasis to the mother tongue," Pradhan said while speaking to the media on the sidelines of 126th founder's day of Delhi University's Hindu College.