Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday criticised the BJP, urging them to make Tamil an official language, halt Hindi imposition, and prioritise Tamil Nadu's development over symbolic gestures like installing Sengol.

Stalin took to social media platform X to question the BJP-led central government’s commitment to Tamil culture despite its claims of supporting it.

He wrote, "If the BJP's claim that our Hon'ble PM has great love for Tamil is true, why is it never reflected in action?"

Demand for official recognition of Tamil

Stalin suggested that instead of symbolic gestures, the government should focus on concrete actions that support Tamil.

"Rather than installing Sengol in Parliament, uninstall Hindi from Union Government offices in Tamil Nadu. Instead of hollow praise, make Tamil an official language on par with Hindi and allot more funds for Tamil than a dead language like Sanskrit," he said.

The Chief Minister also condemned efforts to promote Sanskrit and Hindi in Tamil Nadu.

"Stop the desperate attempts to saffronise Thiruvalluvar and declare his timeless classic, Thirukkural, as India's National Book," he added.

Stalin further emphasised that mere quoting of the Thirukkural in the Union Budget would not suffice and called for practical measures. "Honour them by ensuring special schemes, a prompt disaster relief fund, and new railway projects for Tamil Nadu."

Opposition to Sanskrit naming of schemes

He also criticised the use of Sanskrit in naming government schemes and projects in Tamil Nadu.

"Stop wasting taxpayers' money on the nonsense of 'Hindi Pakhwadas' in Tamil Nadu. End the absurdity of imposing Sanskrit names like Antyodaya, Tejas, and Vande Bharat on Tamil Nadu's trains. Revert to the practice of naming them in Tamil, like Chemmozhi, Muthunagar, Vaigai, Malaikottai, Thirukkural Express, etc.," Stalin said.

He reiterated that true love for Tamil should be demonstrated through actions, not symbolic gestures. "Love for Tamil is proven through deeds, not deception."

Annamalai hits back

Meanwhile, BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai criticised Chief Minister Stalin’s recent remarks on the promotion of the Tamil language.

In a post on X, Annamalai questioned Stalin’s efforts to spread Tamil beyond the state, asking, "What were your achievements in propagating our Tamil language beyond the borders of TN while in power in the State and the Centre? Did anyone obstruct DMK from doing it?"

Annamalai also pointed to the Tamil Development Centre programme initiated by the previous AIADMK government.

"What efforts have you taken to roll out the Tamil Development Centre programme commenced by the previous AIADMK regime?" he asked.

He further claimed that Stalin's true intentions were to keep the Tamil language confined within Tamil Nadu.

"The matter is not about your demands; you have always wished that Tamil remain confined within the borders of our State," Annamalai stated.

Additionally, Annamalai compared Stalin's efforts to those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasising that the PM had taken significant steps to promote Tamil language and culture outside Tamil Nadu.

"Have you at least taken half the effort taken by our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl to spread the richness of Tamil language and culture beyond TN?" he questioned.

ANI