CM Palaniswami writes to PM on exclusion of Tamil in archaeological studies

Chennai

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami sent a missive to PM Narendra Modi concerned over exclusion of Tamil as a qualification for diploma in archaeology.

Admission advertisement of Deendayal Upadhyay Institute of Archaeology was published by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) the guidelines made Sanskrit, Urdu, Pali and Prakrit as a qualification for studying two-year Diploma course in Archaeology but Tamil.

Tamil's exclusion fetched a huge uproar against this guideline from the state.

In his Demi-official letter the CM had written that Tamil is the first language to be granted with classical language status in the year 2004 and Sanskrit only the next year, in spite of that the language has been excluded.

Also referencing the archaeological findings, CM said of the 48,000 inscriptions discovered 28,000 were in Tamil alone.

He wrote the PM urging him to amend the guidelines and include Tamil as a qualifying language.

Staunch critics of both the governments, DMK's chief Stalin and Youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi too condemned this development.

DMK's ally Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s Madurai MP Su Venkatesan too lambasted at this decision.

Stalin saw this as an extension of excluding representation of minorities, oppressed communities from the cultural committee and incriminated the NDA government of disturbing the secular fabric and diversity of India.

Udhayanidhi in a strongly worded tweet questioned how come PM Modi recites Thirukkural and cold shoulders Tamil over a 'dead language' Sanskrit.