Stalin Leads Protests Against 'Saffron' NEP

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Wednesday led a state-wide protest against the Union government amid a raging uproar over the National Education Policy (NEP), which he dubbed as a "saffron policy" aimed at developing Hindi and not the nation, and the proposed delimitation exercise, which he claimed was a sword hanging over south India.

- Divya Chandrababu

CHENNAI:

"We oppose NEP as it will completely destroy Tamil Nadu's education growth. The NEP does not accept reservation that is social justice. This policy denies the assistance amount to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes," Stalin said at a public rally.

Tamil Nadu views the three-language formula, a key aspect of NEP, as a "proxy for Hindi imposition", he said, accusing the Centre of withholding funds to the state for opposing implementation of certain central schemes, including NEP. "Can there be more anarchy than saying that if you do not adopt the Hindi language, we will not provide funds?" he claimed, asserting the state will continue its two-language policy.