Tamil Nadu CM Criticizes Central Government for Language Funding Bias
M.K. Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has criticized the central government for allegedly favoring Sanskrit in language funding while neglecting Tamil and other South Indian languages. His comments were prompted by a report revealing significant disparities in funding allocations, with Sanskrit receiving over ₹2,500 crores compared to a mere ₹147 crores for Tamil and other classical languages. This situation highlights ongoing concerns among Dravidian parties regarding the cultural priorities of southern states being overlooked in favor of North Indian heritage. Stalin's remarks underscore the need for a more equitable approach to language promotion in India.
| Jun 24, 2025, 15:02 IST
Stalin's Accusation Against the Central Government
Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, has expressed strong criticism towards the BJP-led central government, accusing it of favoritism in language funding. He claimed that the government prioritizes Sanskrit while neglecting Tamil and other South Indian languages. In a post on the social media platform X, Stalin stated, "Sanskrit receives millions, while Tamil and other South Indian languages get nothing but crocodile tears. The affection for Tamil is a facade; all the funds are directed towards Sanskrit!"
Funding Discrepancies Highlighted
This statement from the Chief Minister follows a report by a prominent news outlet, which revealed through data obtained via the Right to Information Act (RTI) that between 2014-15 and 2024-25, the central government allocated ₹2,532.59 crores to promote Sanskrit. In stark contrast, the combined allocation for Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia—five other classical Indian languages—was merely ₹147.56 crores.
Concerns Over Language Promotion
According to the report, Tamil, which was designated as a classical language in 2004, received only ₹113.48 crores under the grant scheme for the promotion of Indian languages—22 times less than what was allocated to Sanskrit. Telugu and Kannada received less than 0.5 percent of the funds spent on Sanskrit, while Malayalam and Odia received less than 0.2 percent. Stalin's remarks reflect a long-standing concern among Dravidian parties that the promotion of Sanskrit overlooks the cultural and linguistic priorities of southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, which are more closely associated with North Indian heritage and Hindu religious traditions.