Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu, presenting the state’s budget on Friday, said the state will not succumb to Centre’s pressure to implement three-language policy in the state and will utilise its own funds to meet the needs of the school education department.
Presenting the budget for the 2025-2026 financial year, Thenarasu said, “The Union government did not release ₹2,150 crore to the Tamil Nadu government due to the state’s refusal to accept the three-language policy. The state government itself has released funds for this from its own financial resources,” The Hindu reported.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu (pic 1) is presenting the State Budget in Assembly today.
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2025
AIADMK walked out of the Assembly over alleged TASMAC scam. BJP also walked out of the House.
(Pics: Tamil Nadu Assembly) pic.twitter.com/gzzIleAwe5
The finance minister’s statement comes as Tamil Nadu is engaged in a huge row with the Centre over implementing the National Education Policy in the state. The state on Thursday replaced the rupee symbol,‘₹’, in its budget logo with Tamil letter ‘ரு' (Ru), the first letter of Tamil word ‘Rubaai’, meaning rupee.
The Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the state government for the move and Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai called the move “stupid”. He added the ‘₹’ symbol was designed by a Tamilian and son of former DMK legislator.
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Tamil Nadu has opposed the Centre’s three-language formula and claimed students in the state have hugely benefited from its two-language policy. The state also condemned Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for saying pending funds will be released to Tamil Nadu only if the National Education Policy (NEP) is implemented in its entirety in the southern state.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin termed NEP a “poison” and categorically said the state would not implement the policy. He also slammed the Union minister for trying to “blackmail” the state by withholding funds.
