Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has once again taken a strong stance against the alleged imposition of Hindi through the three-language policy, emphasizing that advocating for linguistic equality is not an act of chauvinism. In a detailed post on X, Stalin referenced a well-known quote often linked to Franklin Leonard: "When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression."

Stalin stated that he was reminded of this quote when some "privileged individuals" accused him and his party of being "chauvinists and anti-nationals" for insisting that Tamil be given its rightful place in Tamil Nadu.

Taking direct aim at the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, he questioned the credibility of those who "glorify the ideology of Godse" and yet challenge the patriotism of the DMK. He reminded critics that his party had contributed significantly to the nation during critical events such as the Chinese Aggression, Bangladesh Liberation War, and Kargil War, while, he alleged, their ideological predecessors were associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.

"Fighting for linguistic equality is not chauvinism. Do you want to know what true chauvinism is? It is naming three fundamental criminal laws in a language that millions of Tamils cannot pronounce or understand. It is treating Tamil Nadu, a major contributor to the national economy, as second-class simply because we refuse to accept the National Education Policy (NEP)," Stalin asserted.

Warning against the consequences of language imposition, he said, "Forcing a language breeds resentment, and resentment threatens unity. The real chauvinists and anti-nationals are the Hindi zealots who mistake privilege for entitlement and misinterpret our resistance as betrayal."

The National Education Policy promotes a three-language system but insists that no language will be forcibly imposed. However, the Tamil Nadu government has been vocal in its opposition, viewing it as an attempt to push Hindi dominance.

In contrast, the BJP in Tamil Nadu argues that the three-language formula is necessary, particularly to facilitate communication for those traveling across the country. They present it as a tool for skill development and national integration.

The DMK counters by asserting that while individuals should be free to learn multiple languages, there should be no coercion. The party highlights that Tamil speakers have historically excelled under the two-language system in the state's education framework.

Responding to Stalin’s criticism, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai accused him of hypocrisy, particularly regarding fund allocations for Sanskrit and Tamil.

"Only a hypocrite would question the increased funding for Sanskrit over Tamil while ignoring past allocations," Annamalai remarked. He pointed out that between 2006 and 2014, Sanskrit received Rs 675.36 crore, whereas Tamil was allocated only Rs 75.05 crore. "What were you doing then? Why did you remain silent when former Home Minister P. Chidambaram submitted over 170 recommendations to promote Hindi nationwide?" he asked.

To further counter the DMK’s stance, Annamalai launched a signature campaign supporting the three-language policy, positioning it as a necessary reform rather than an imposition.