PM Modi Criticizes Congress for Comments on West Asia and Education Policy

In a recent address, Prime Minister Modi accused the Congress party of making misleading comments about West Asia, which he claims jeopardize Indian expatriates. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan defended the National Education Policy 2020 against criticisms from Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, asserting that the policy promotes linguistic diversity and aims to enhance education for all students. Pradhan emphasized the importance of mother tongue education while countering claims of Hindi imposition. He also criticized the Tamil Nadu government for delays in establishing PM-SHRI schools, impacting underprivileged students. This article delves into the political dynamics surrounding these educational reforms.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 5, 2026, 01:11 IST

Modi's Accusations Against Congress

Prime Minister Modi has accused the Congress party of making "absurd" remarks regarding West Asia, claiming these statements aim to sow distrust and endanger Indian expatriates. On Saturday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's comments on the three-language formula, labeling it an attempt to divert attention from political shortcomings.

Response to Stalin's Claims

Pradhan argued that describing the policy as linguistic imposition misrepresents a progressive and inclusive reform, creating unnecessary fear and confusion. Previously, Stalin contended that the three-language formula is a covert method to promote Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states. He characterized the CBSE curriculum framework, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, as a calculated and alarming step towards linguistic imposition.

National Education Policy's Goals

In response, Pradhan emphasized that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a move towards "linguistic liberation," focusing on education in the mother tongue to ensure that every child, including Tamil-speaking students, can excel in their native language. He further stated that presenting this policy as mandatory Hindi undermines students' opportunities to become multilingual and globally competitive. According to him, multilingualism will strengthen rather than weaken the Tamil language.

Advocating for Equal Language Promotion

Pradhan also mentioned that the new policy promotes all languages equally, aligns with constitutional values, and seeks to improve the existing two-language system. He highlighted the implementation efforts through initiatives aimed at overall education, teacher training, and institutional strengthening. Criticizing Stalin, Pradhan alleged that the Tamil Nadu government has delayed the establishment of PM-SHRI schools by failing to sign necessary memorandums of understanding, despite previous commitments, leaving many underprivileged students without access to better infrastructure and quality education.