DMK advocates equal recognition for all Indian languages: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has clarified that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is not opposing Hindi but is advocating for equal recognition of all Indian languages, including Tamil.

Clarification on DMK’s Stand

In a statement, CM Stalin addressed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s claims that Hindi is India’s national language and must be accepted by all. He pointed out that Hindi is an official language of the Indian government, along with English, but it is not the national language. India is a union of diverse linguistic communities, and states operate in their respective native languages as per the Constitution.

“The DMK is not against Hindi,” Stalin emphasized. “We demand equal recognition for all languages listed in Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution. The claim that Hindi is the sole national language is a form of linguistic dominance. Similarly, the assertion that Sanskrit is India’s root language is an attempt to suppress linguistic diversity. A ‘root language’ should be one from which other languages have originated, but this claim is historically inaccurate.”

CM Stalin further questioned the BJP’s commitment to Tamil and other regional languages. While BJP leaders claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi respects Tamil, their policies suggest otherwise.

“If the BJP truly respects Tamil, how much funding have they allocated for the language during their tenure? How much has been spent on Sanskrit in comparison?” he asked.

He highlighted that over the past ten years, the BJP-led central government has allocated ₹2,435 crore to institutions like the Central Sanskrit University and National Sanskrit University. In contrast, the Central Institute of Classical Tamil received only ₹167 crore in the same period.

Stalin accused the central government of systematically undermining Tamil and other regional languages while promoting Hindi and Sanskrit. He warned that linguistic imposition has historically led to unrest in various countries.

“The BJP government has not only deprived Tamil Nadu of its rightful share of central funds but has also ignored the financial needs of Tamil language development. Their approach to regional languages mirrors an attempt to impose linguistic dominance,” Stalin stated.

He concluded by asserting that India’s strength lies in its linguistic and cultural diversity, and attempts to enforce a single language would weaken the nation’s unity.