BJP, DMK CLASH IN LS AS HOUSE RESUMES ON A STORMY NOTE

Pradhan accuses TN government of doing a U-turn on NEP NEP "in full" and three-language formula not acceptable to TN: DMK

- TDG NETWORK

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday accused the Tamil Nadu government of being "dishonest" and doing a U-turn on the implementation of the new National Education Policy (NEP), drawing a sharp retort from DMK and other opposition parties which alleged that he had hurt the state's pride.

After protests and brief adjournment in the Lok Sabha, Pradhan withdrew certain words he used for Tamil Nadu MPs and urged the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government to rise above political interests for the benefit of students.

The BJP stepped up its attack on the DMK, accusing it of opposing the NEP and delimitation out of fear of losing assembly elections due next year.

The Centre and the DMK government have been engaged in a heated exchange over these issues, with the DMK alleging that the BJP was imposing Hindi on the southern state through the NEP.

The DMK said it had clearly told the minister "we cannot accept" the NEP "in full" and the three-language formula "is not acceptable to Tamil Nadu".

Earlier, replying to a question on the PM SHRI scheme in the Lok Sabha, Pradhan said the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has changed its stand on implementing the centrally-sponsored scheme which envisaged strengthening the schools managed by central, state or local bodies.