Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Mar 10: Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, has strongly criticized the National Education Policy (NEP), calling it a politically driven agenda rather than a genuine reform. His sharp remarks came after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reportedly referred to Tamil Nadu MPs as “uncivilized” in Parliament.
In a statement issued Monday, Anbil Mahesh questioned whether Pradhan truly understood his own words or was merely reading from a script handed to him. He challenged the Union Minister to clarify Tamil Nadu’s stand on the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, accusing him of misrepresenting the state's position.
Dismissing claims that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to PM SHRI but later backtracked, he cited an August 30, 2024 letter in which Pradhan himself acknowledged Tamil Nadu’s outright rejection of the scheme. The minister highlighted that under the Integrated School Education Scheme (2018), the Centre is obligated to release 60% of the approved education funds to Tamil Nadu—amounting to ?2,152 crore for the 2024-25 academic year. However, he accused the Centre of withholding these funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, using financial pressure to coerce Tamil Nadu into accepting the NEP-aligned PM SHRI initiative.
“This kind of political interference in education will not be forgiven. Students and teachers will remember this betrayal,” Anbil Mahesh warned, vowing that Tamil Nadu would continue to resist the Centre’s pressure.
Earlier, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also condemned Pradhan’s remarks, taking to social media platform X to criticize his "arrogant tone." Stalin rebuked the Union Minister, saying, “What audacity do you have to call Tamil Nadu MPs uncivilized while withholding our rightful education funds? This is an insult to the people of Tamil Nadu.” He further questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed such statements.
Stalin also referenced Pradhan’s August 30, 2024 letter, which acknowledged Tamil Nadu’s rejection of both the NEP and the trilingual policy included in PM SHRI. In response to Pradhan’s “Super CM” remark aimed at the DMK leadership, Stalin stated, “Mr. Pradhan, we act based on the will of the people! Unlike you, we do not follow diktats from Nagpur.”
Tamil Nadu leaders have consistently opposed NEP, arguing that it enforces a one-size-fits-all model that undermines the state’s unique educational policies and linguistic heritage. The DMK government has also rejected what it calls “arm-twisting tactics”—accusing the Centre of withholding funds to force compliance with NEP-aligned schemes.
Anbil Mahesh reaffirmed that Tamil Nadu is bearing the financial burden of education-related salaries, staff payments, and welfare programs under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. Despite these challenges, he asserted that Tamil Nadu would not compromise its principles, vowing to continue the fight for its rights.
“This battle will not stop until justice prevails. Tamil Nadu will fight and win,” the minister declared.