Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty entered the ongoing debate on the three-language policy in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by expressing her support on March 12. Referring to her own experience with languages, she said, “I have always believed that one can learn multiple languages, and I myself know 7-8 languages. So I enjoy learning, and children can learn a lot.”
Sudha Murty is an engineer-turned-author and wife of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy.
Her remarks come amid a standoff between Tamil Nadu and the Union government regarding the implementation of the three-language formula in schools. The Union government has linked compliance with the formula to the release of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, triggering opposition from Tamil Nadu, which views it as a veiled attempt to impose Hindi.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram strongly criticised the Union government's stance, arguing that Tamil Nadu is adequately served by its existing two-language formula—English and Tamil. He condemned any attempt to enforce a third language. "Tamil Nadu is very clear and well served by the two-language formula—English and Tamil. If anyone wants to learn a third language, it should be by choice," Karti Chidambaram said.
Congress MP Jebi Mather accused the BJP-led government of mishandling the language issue, describing it as a sensitive matter that should not be exploited for political gains.
"BJP should realise that the language issue is a sensitive emotional matter... Anything that hurts people’s sentiments should not be promoted. Dharmendra Pradhan is unnecessarily causing division in society… BJP has an agenda in NEP," Mather said.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan defended the government's position in the Rajya Sabha, dismissing allegations of divisive intent and asserting that the NEP aims to enhance educational standards without compromising linguistic diversity.
"The Union government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will never use language to divide society," the Minister said.
Dharmendra recently faced criticism for calling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MPs “undemocratic and uncivilised” in Parliament. Many in the state claimed that his remarks were an insult to Tamil Nadu. Dharmendra later apologised and withdrew his comments, but insisted that the Tamil Nadu government had agreed to implement the NEP.
Chief Minister MK Stalin countered this claim by sharing a letter from Dharmendra dated August 2024. The letter mentioned that Tamil Nadu had expressed willingness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India or PM SHRI scheme. Stalin pointed out that Tamil Nadu’s version of the MoU had excluded a key clause requiring full NEP implementation.
The PM SHRI initiative was launched under NEP in 2023, aiming to modernise schools and implement learning opportunities through field studies, collaborations with other institutions, etc. While the PM SHRI scheme does not explicitly say that states must fully implement the NEP for funds to be released, Tamil Nadu officials have alleged that the Union government recently withheld funds on this basis. TNM has reported earlier on how the Union government has been issuing conditions for releasing certain funds.
In February this year, Dharmendra faced backlash for suggesting that Samagra Shiksha funds would only be released to states that adopt the NEP in full, a move widely criticised by the DMK and other opposition parties.