Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who tweeted on Wednesday morning recommending the study of Tamil as an optional language in other States, found himself in the midst of a controversy, with his stand being viewed by the Opposition as endorsing the three-language formula.
Mr. Palaniswami, who had posted the original tweet on his personal Twitter handle @EPSTamilNadu, later deleted it.
In his tweet, he requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi “to include Tamil as an optional language for study in other States”. He added that “this will be a great service to one of the most ancient languages of the world”.
Mr. Palaniswami’s tweet immediately drew a sharp response from Opposition parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
Only a few days ago, the issue of “Hindi imposition” by the Central government, in its draft National Education Policy, led to all-round condemnation, forcing the Centre to drop the clause that sought to make teaching Hindi mandatory in all schools as part of the three-language formula.
In the light of Mr. Palaniswami’s tweet, the Opposition wondered whether he subscribed to the three-language formula and wanted him to make his position clear. Tamil Nadu has adopted a two-language formula (Tamil and English) in schools. Sensing the controversy that his tweet had generated, the Chief Minister deleted it, which again became a subject of debate in political circles and on social media.
Reiterating that the government had been following the line adopted by C.N. Annadurai, M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa on the language issue, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said the tweet was withdrawn as it was being politicised “unnecessarily”.
The request was made as Tamil-speaking people in other States had made a representation to the Chief Minister in this regard, the Minister added.