TN firm on 2-language policy: Minister

The Minister further clarified that the state government led by ChiefMinister Edappadi K Palaniswami had been adopting the ideologies offormer chief minister CN Annadurai, who was known for his anti-Hindi imposition struggle and ensured the two-language system.

“The two-language system has been followed for many years and there won’t be any change in the opinion of the government,” Bhalaji assured.

While talking to reporters, the Minister said that Hindi as a language could be learnt by anybody voluntarily. But the same language cannot be forced upon the students.

“Hindi will not be a mandatory language and if it is forced upon us, in such a situation the Chief Minister will fight against it firmly,” he added.

On poll debacle

When asked whether the AIADMK’s vote bank came down in the wake of the party’s poll debacle in Lok Sabha and Assembly by-elections, the Minister denied it by saying that the DMK even had lost its deposit after losing in a by-poll from RK Nagar Assembly constituency and now bounced back. Citing this, he said nothing could be predicted. However, the stand of people, who voted in recent elections in Tamil Nadu and the probable reasons for party’s defeat would be analysed properly, he added.

He said the DMK made false promises in its manifesto and people believed in it. Exuding confidence, he said the people would bring a huge victory for the AIADMK in the next local body elections in the state.

To a query on not getting a representation in the Union Cabinet, the Minister said that the AIADMK had sought the Centre to allot Ministerial posts in the Cabinet for two or three senior leaders of the party. But, party leaders would always abide by the Chief Minister’s decision and act accordingly, he noted.