CHENNAI: Former Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday criticised Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s controversial statement linking the release of funds to the National Education Policy (NEP) and said that the people of Tamil Nadu must remain united and put an end to the arrogant speech.

Describing the statement of minister Pradhan that funds would not be released to TN until it adopted the NEP and taught Hindi as the “height of arrogance”, Chidambaram said, “It is the right of the State people and the State government to formulate its language policy. People of Tamil Nadu must stand united and put an end to the arrogant speech.”

He also added that it was evident from the minister’s arrogant speech that he does not know the history of Tamil Nadu, the sentiments of its people or the history of the making of the Indian Constitution.

“Does he know that only a one-language policy is pursued in Hindi-speaking states? Does he at least know about the promise made by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi to non-Hindi-speaking states? Does the education minister know that denying funds approved by the Parliament to a State for not teaching Hindi was an insult to the Parliament?” Chidambaram wondered.