Dharmendra Pradhan (left) and M K Stalin.
Credit: PTI Photos
New Delhi: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has alleged that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin was pitting one state against another while opposing the implementation of the new National Education Policy (NEP).
Stalin had alleged that better-performing states were denied Central funds for opposing NEP.
In a post on X, Pradhan in response to Stalin’s post, said that while “healthy competition” amongst the states is always welcome in a democracy, “pitting states against each other” goes against the spirit of the Constitution.
He said that the NEP was formulated through a wide range of consultations and has the “collective wisdom” of the people of India.
He then posed a series of questions to Stalin: “Are you opposing education in mother tongue, including Tamil ? Are you opposing the conduct of exams in Indian languages including Tamil ? Are you opposing the creation of textbooks and content in Indian languages including Tamil ? Are you opposed to the holistic, multi-disciplinary, equitable, futuristic and inclusive framework of NEP,” he asked.
He then asked Stalin to “prioritise the interests” of the students of Tamil Nadu over political gains and implement NEP.
Stalin has raised concerns of the Centre ignoring better-performing states by withholding Shiksha Samagra funds to Opposition-ruled states who have either not implemented NEP or the PM Shri school programme.
Stalin was sharing a news report which stated that, over the past year, states like TN, West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab and Delhi, were facing funds crunch after the Centre delayed funds. Two Opposition states – Punjab and Delhi – had recently caved in after funds were held by the Centre.
“Denying funds to the best-performing states for refusing to bow to the #NEP, while generously rewarding those who are not delivering on the objectives – Is this how the Union BJP Government plans to promote quality education and equity? I leave it to the wisdom of our nation and our people to decide,” Stalin had posted.