New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena Party chief Pawan Kalyan has thrown his weight behind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the ongoing language debate, criticizing Tamil Nadu politicians for their opposition to Hindi while profiting from Hindi-dubbed films.

Kalyan’s remarks come amid escalating tensions between the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over the implementation of Hindi in schools under the National Education Policy (NEP).

Pawan Kalyan Advocates Linguistic Diversity

While addressing the 11th formation day of his party on Friday, Kalyan stressed the importance of embracing multiple languages to maintain national unity and integrity.

"India needs multiple languages, including Tamil, and not just two," he said.

Taking a direct swipe at the DMK government, he questioned the logic behind opposing Hindi while capitalizing on Bollywood profits.

"I do not understand why some criticize Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi—what kind of logic is that?"

Delimitation & Sanatan Dharma

Apart from the language issue, Kalyan also called for discussions on delimitation, addressing concerns that certain states could lose MP seats in the Lok Sabha. He reaffirmed his stance as a Sanatan Dharma supporter, highlighting Janasena’s resilience despite political challenges.

BJP Praises Kalyan, Prakash Raj Hits Back

Kalyan’s statements received strong support from BJP leaders, but also sharp criticism from actor-politician Prakash Raj.

BJP Lauds Kalyan’s Stand on Language

Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar backed Kalyan’s views, posting on X (formerly Twitter):

"No dynast, including @mkstalin’s posse of crooks, will and should be allowed to divide Indians because of their opportunistic politics."

BJP spokesperson Rachna Reddy questioned Tamil Nadu’s “insecurity” over Hindi:

"We always had the three-language system in schools. Why is Tamil Nadu okay with children learning French and German, but not Hindi? Do they think they are a separate state?"

BJP leader Vikram Randhawa also weighed in:

"Hindi is India’s national language. People in the South earn crores from Hindi-dubbed films but refuse to accept the language. This hypocrisy must end."

Prakash Raj Defends Tamil Nadu’s Stance

Actor-politician Prakash Raj strongly opposed Kalyan’s remarks, emphasizing the importance of protecting Tamil culture.

"To say ‘Don’t impose Hindi on us’ is not hating another language. It is about protecting our mother tongue with pride. Someone please tell this to Pawan Kalyan."

DMK Replaces Rupee Symbol in Budget, Sparks BJP’s Outrage

In a symbolic protest against the NEP, the Tamil Nadu government replaced the official Indian rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter ‘Ru’ in its 2025-26 Budget.

The letter ‘Ru’ originates from the Tamil word ‘rubai’ (rupees), marking the first time a state has rejected the national currency symbol.

The move drew harsh criticism from BJP leaders.

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed it as “secessionist”, accusing the DMK of trying to divide the country.
• Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K. Annamalai called it a "stupid" move and an attempt to undermine national unity.

DMK vs Centre: Parliament Faceoff Over NEP & Delimitation

The language controversy intensified in Parliament after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of “ruining the future of students” by refusing to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme.

Delimitation Fears in Tamil Nadu

At the heart of the DMK vs Centre battle is the delimitation debate. The Tamil Nadu government fears that if the Lok Sabha seats are redistributed based on new population data, Southern states could lose representation, shifting power toward North India.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly opposed Pradhan’s remarks, calling them an "insult to the people of Tamil Nadu."

The Road Ahead

With the language debate, NEP policies, and delimitation concerns fueling tensions between the Centre and Tamil Nadu, the political battleground in the South is only heating up.

While Pawan Kalyan and the BJP push for greater acceptance of Hindi, the DMK and regional leaders continue to fight for linguistic and cultural preservation.

Will the BJP’s push for Hindi succeed in the South, or will Tamil Nadu’s resistance grow stronger?