Include Tamil as optional language in other states : EPS urges Modi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include Tamil as an optional language for study in other states.

Mr Palaniswami, in a tweet, said it would be a great service to one of the most ancient languages of the world.

He said ''Request Hon'ble PM @narendramodi ji to include Tamil as an optional language for study in other states. This will be a great service to one of the most ancient languages of the world.''

Mr Palaniswami's request comes two days after the centre drew flak from political parties in Tamil Nadu on its proposed move to make Hindi as one of the languages in schools.

Following protests in the State, the clause recommending mandatory Hindi teaching in all schools was dropped from the draft National Education Policy on Monday.

However, the revised draft retains the recommendation to introduce a three-language formula from Class 1 onwards.

It only removed the clause stipulating the specific languages that students must choose.

After the original draft was released on Friday last, all the Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu flayed the recommendations, and even the ruling AIADMK, an ally of the BJP, refused to dilute the State's two language formula.