The ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu took a new turn as Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued an apology for not being able to speak in Tamil. The minister’s statement came amidst rising opposition from Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and other regional parties against the Central Government’s three-language policy.
Amit Shah’s Apology: “I Cannot Speak Tamil”
During the inauguration of a BJP district office in Coimbatore, Amit Shah addressed the public and acknowledged Tamil as one of the world’s oldest languages. He openly stated:
“Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world. I cannot speak Tamil, and for that, I apologize to the people of Tamil Nadu.”
This statement comes at a time when Tamil Nadu’s political landscape is heavily debating the National Education Policy (NEP), which has been rejected by the Tamil Nadu government due to its alleged bias toward Hindi.
The Hindi Imposition Debate in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has historically resisted attempts to impose Hindi as a compulsory language in schools. The DMK government, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has refused to implement the three-language formula proposed by the Central Government. This formula mandates that students must learn three languages—English, Hindi, and their regional language. However, Tamil Nadu follows a two-language policy, emphasizing only Tamil and English.
This disagreement has intensified with Tamil Nadu alleging that the state is being denied ₹2,000 crore in central education funds for not adopting the National Education Policy. Stalin had even written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concerns over what he called a “discriminatory policy” that seeks to prioritize Hindi over regional languages.
Union Government’s Response: Not About Imposing Hindi?
While the DMK, AIADMK, and Kamal Haasan’s MNM have strongly opposed the policy, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan defended it, stating:
“The three-language policy should not be seen as an attempt to impose Hindi. Language should not be politicized.”
However, critics argue that this policy is an indirect way of promoting Hindi at the expense of regional languages.
Amit Shah’s Attack on DMK: Calls Them “Anti-National”
Apart from addressing the language issue, Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the ruling DMK, labeling it as a “seditious party”. He expressed confidence that the people of Tamil Nadu would reject DMK in the 2026 state elections and elect a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
“2024 has been a historic year for the BJP. Narendra Modi has become Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. We have won in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Haryana. The people of Tamil Nadu will also throw out the anti-national DMK in 2026.”
Tamil Actor Vijay Criticizes BJP-DMK Feud
Tamil superstar Vijay, who has recently entered politics, dismissed the ongoing BJP-DMK fight over language as “a childish battle”. His remarks have sparked debate in Tamil Nadu, with DMK leaders accusing him of being afraid of BJP’s rise in the state.
The Political Impact: Will Language Play a Role in 2026 Elections?
As Tamil Nadu gears up for the 2026 state elections, the Hindi imposition debate is likely to remain a central issue. The BJP’s growing efforts to gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu have met with resistance from regional parties advocating linguistic identity. With Amit Shah’s recent apology, the BJP is likely trying to soften its image in the state, but whether this will translate into electoral gains remains to be seen.
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