Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani, who spoke at the event, said, “C Rajagopalachari, who imposed Hindi in 1938, had to retract, and later in 1965 had to say, ‘Hindi Never, English Ever’. The BJP leaders may not be aware of this history of TN. This will repeat.”

TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said, “Former PM Jawaharlal Nehru assured that Hindi would not be imposed and his successors in Congress followed that. The BJP is provoking us unnecessarily. TN is 50 years ahead of others with its two-language policy. Tamils will reject BJP and its covert allies.”

Recollecting the memories of 1965 language struggle when armed forces opened fire on student protesters and many sacrificed their lives, MDMK leader Vaiko said, “The whole TN is up on its feet. The union government should know that today’s youngsters will follow in the footsteps of the language martyrs to save Tamil.”

VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said, “Many languages in northern states have vanished due to Hindi. If we allow three-language policy, Hindi will displace Tamil over the years and then ultimately Sanskrit will be thrust upon us.”

CPM state secretary P Shanmugam urged the DMK president MK Stalin to announce a state-wide strike to show Tamils unity to the union government.

Attacking BJP state president, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan said, “Annamalai said two-language policy has become obsolete. That’s not true. It is the BJP that has become obsolete in TN.” Earlier, state education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi discredited ASER report and called it as BJP’s agenda. “Don’t cite that report to support the three-language policy. TN is doing well in education. State’s education fund of Rs 2,152 crore should be released by the Centre immediately,” he said.

Release funds within time frame: CM to centre | P6

Adblock test (Why?)