TIRUCHY: The National Education Policy (NEP) indirectly imposes Hindi. That’s why Tamil Nadu needs yet another massive anti-Hindi agitation to ensure language sovereignty, opined P Maniarasan, president, Thamizh Desiya Periyakkam.

“While several states like TN have been excelling with dual language policy, the Union government is keen on implementing NEP which is another way of imposing Hindi. The UGC’s recent circular on three-language policy confirms it,” Maniarasan told DT Next.

He pointed out that the Union government’s goal is Hindi-ethnic dominance through NEP. “Once a particular ethnic dominates a State, it would focus on implementing their language, and the Union government has been practising it. They want to abolish Tamil language, culture and tradition. A progressive state like TN does not need a third language and no one should be forced to learn it,” he added.

Maniarasan has appealed to the Dravidian parties to take Hindi imposition seriously and strongly oppose it. He also accused the BJP-led NDA government of trying everything to make Hindi the dominant language. “This was once practised by the Congress which opened several Hindi Prachar Sabhas across Tamil Nadu,” Maniarasan recalled. “Both BJP and Congress are identical twins in implementing Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states. So, we need another massive anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu.”