Pradhan Slams Stalin’s 'Myopic Vision' On NEP's Language Policy, Says Tamil Nadu Twisting Education Reforms For Political Mileage

The ongoing political standoff between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 escalated further as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday (21 February), reported The Indian Express.

Pradhan criticised Tamil Nadu’s stance on the policy, stating that it was “inappropriate for the State to view NEP 2020 with a myopic vision and spin progressive education reforms into threats to sustain their political narratives.”, quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Pradhan reaffirmed that NEP 2020 does not impose any language and emphasised that several non-BJP states had implemented its provisions despite political differences. “NEP 2020 aims to broaden the horizon, not narrow them,” he wrote.

Tamil Nadu’s Resistance and the Samagra Shiksha Funding Row

The letter comes amid a series of exchanges between Stalin and Pradhan over Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the three-language formula, which the state perceives as an attempt to impose Hindi. 

While Pradhan has insisted that Tamil Nadu must adopt NEP “in letter and spirit,” Stalin has maintained that education falls under the concurrent list and questioned which constitutional provision mandates the three-language formula.

Amid this deadlock, the Centre has withheld Samagra Shiksha funds meant for Tamil Nadu’s school education programme. On Thursday, Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to release Rs 2,152 crore in pending funds without linking it to the implementation of NEP 2020.

Stalin accused the Centre of using financial coercion to pressure Tamil Nadu into adopting centrally mandated policies, calling it a "blatant violation of cooperative federalism."

Pradhan’s Response: Defending NEP and Linguistic Diversity

In response, Pradhan dismissed Stalin’s claims, asserting that his letter to the PM was a "complete negation of the spirit of cooperative federalism promoted by the Modi government.” He reiterated that NEP 2020 upholds linguistic freedom, and there was no question of imposing any language on any state.

Pradhan also defended the three-language formula, calling it the backbone of India’s education framework since 1968. He argued that successive governments had failed to implement it effectively, leading to a decline in the teaching of Indian languages in schools. 

“Over time, this has resulted in an over-reliance on foreign languages, limiting students’ exposure to their linguistic roots. NEP 2020 seeks to correct this historical oversight by ensuring that every Indian language, including Tamil, receives its rightful place in education,” Pradhan wrote.