Kanimozhi Karunanidhi files notice of breach of parliamentary privilege against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was the target of a notice filed on Monday by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi alleging a violation of parliamentary privilege. Pradhan’s comments in Parliament on Tamil Nadu’s educational system and its position on the three-language policy are the subject of the notice.
When Pradhan allegedly called Tamil Nadu MPs “uncivilized” during a parliamentary debate, the issue broke out. Deeply offended by the remarks, Kanimozhi has referred to the phrase “uncivilized” as an insulting and unparliamentary slur. She maintained that such statements were intolerable, particularly when they were made against elected officials.
“The words that have been used against our CM and our MPs are terrible,” Kanimozhi told the reporters. We cannot use the term “uncivilized” to describe any of the people in this nation. It’s the most disparaging term that can be used. We’ve given notice, and I don’t believe this is the end of it. The BJP finds it difficult to see the progress of the southern states as they are unable to attain it.
Kanimozhi went on to say that she was unhappy with how the central government was managing the three-language strategy. Particularly in southern areas like Tamil Nadu, where English and Tamil have historically been the favored languages of instruction, the three-language strategy, which calls for teaching three languages in Indian schools, has generated controversy. The DMK, which views Hindi as an unneeded burden for pupils, has been outspoken in its opposition to its inclusion in the curriculum.
Kanimozhi also emphasized in her speech the differences in the level of development between the northern and southern states, especially when it comes to population management. “We are now reaching the penalizing point, notwithstanding Southern India’s strict adherence to family planning. All of the CMs now claim that you have boosted the population. What are we anticipating? In the heartland of northern India, there are several states that are impoverished, lack access to education, and lack power. We are able to provide high-quality food, education, and living conditions. She said, “It’s time for the federal government to figure out how to apply this in the states that haven’t been using it and punish them for not doing so.”
Following growing hostility between the southern states and the federal government over the National Education Policy (NEP), Kanimozhi made these remarks. Tamil Nadu and other states have been opposing the need for Hindi to be taught in schools, claiming that it violates federalism and states’ right to choose their own educational objectives. English and Tamil serve as the teaching languages of Tamil Nadu, which has long maintained a two-language policy.
The anticipated delimitation exercise, which can have an impact on the distribution of parliamentary seats, was another issue brought up by the DMK leader. While northern states with higher populations may get more seats, the southern states worry their representation would be reduced, according to Kanimozhi. Her worries about the exercise’s possible political repercussions were heightened when she denounced the Speaker’s unwillingness to permit a discussion on the matter.
“The chair rejected our notice under Rule 267 to discuss the delimitation, which is negatively affecting the southern states of India. We want to have a constructive conversation on delimitation. We are interested in what the government would do and what the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be,” Kanimozhi said.
Kanimozhi responded to Pradhan’s comments on Tamil Nadu’s compliance with the NEP by stressing that the state was not opposed to the policy but was worried about Hindi being imposed. She emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s strong educational system did not need the addition of a second language, particularly one that many pupils found challenging to acquire.
“Any language is acceptable to us… Since Hindi is a language spoken by a portion of the Indian population, we are arguing that it is a state topic, so please refrain from imposing it,” she said. “In Tamil Nadu, we have been adhering to two language policies: Tamil and English. We’ve done well at school. We have a healthy GDP. Every Tamil Naduan has made their home elsewhere. We raise money from outside sources. We have an excellent educational system. What have we done incorrectly? Why do you wish to make a language that will be difficult for the children a requirement of the curriculum?
