Udhayanidhi Stalin Slams BJP Over Fund Refusal: 'Not Asking For Your Father's Money'

Udhayanidhi Stalin criticised the Union Budget 2025, stating that Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat received significant financial support, while Tamil Nadu was sidelined.

The DMK and BJP have been at loggerheads over the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula.

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Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government, alleging discrimination in fund allocation and reiterating the state’s opposition to the three-language policy.

Speaking at a protest organised by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its alliance parties, Stalin criticised the Union Budget 2025, stating that Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat received significant financial support, while Tamil Nadu was sidelined. He further accused the Union Education Minister of conditioning funds for the state on Tamil Nadu’s acceptance of the three-language policy.

Rejecting what he termed as BJP’s intimidation tactics, Stalin made a bold statement, as per reports: "We are not asking for your father’s money. We are asking for our tax money and our rights. If you (BJP) think you can threaten us, it will never happen in Tamil Nadu."

Earlier, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the state would not receive funds until it provides approval for National Education Policy. 

Further, the Deputy CM emphasised that his participation in the protest was not in his capacity as a government official but as a DMK youth wing member.

"I have come here to protest against the Union Government to save the education and language of our state. I have not participated as a Dy CM; I have participated as a DMK youth wing cadre," the Deputy CM asserted, as per ANI.

Reacting to the protests, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai dismissed the accusations of Hindi imposition, stating that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties were misleading students.

"Nobody is imposing Hindi in Tamil Nadu. The opposition parties are deliberately confusing people for political gains," Annamalai remarked.

The DMK and BJP have been at loggerheads over the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula with the Tamil Nadu government firmly opposing any move that mandates Hindi learning in schools.