The dispute between Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK and the BJP over the Centre's three-language policy and the perceived 'imposition of Hindi' has intensified, with Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin making a strong statement that the state is prepared for a 'language war.'

The controversy escalated after Stalin declared, "States that accept Hindi lose their mother tongue," reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the policy. His remarks follow Chief Minister MK Stalin's criticism of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom he accused of blackmailing the state into adopting the National Education Policy (NEP) by withholding crucial education funds.

Tamil Nadu has long adhered to a 'two-language' policy—teaching Tamil and English—and has a history of resisting the imposition of Hindi, with large-scale agitations in the 1930s and 1960s. The latest dispute centers around Rs 2,400 crore in funds for the Samagra Shiksha mission, which Pradhan indicated would not be released unless Tamil Nadu accepted the NEP in its entirety.

"We are only asking for our tax money and our rights. We are asking for money that is rightfully ours... Dharmendra Pradhan openly threatened us that funds would be released only if we accept the three-language formula. But we are not asking for your father's money... we aren't begging," Stalin said at a DMK-led protest rally in Chennai. "The people of Tamil Nadu are watching.

They will give a fitting reply at the appropriate time." Emphasizing Tamil Nadu’s strong Dravidian identity, Stalin reminded the BJP that the state has a history of resisting attempts to diminish its linguistic and cultural heritage. "This is a Dravidian land... the land of Periyar. The last time you tried to take away the rights of the Tamil people, they started 'GoBackModi'. If you try again... this time the voice will be 'Get out, Modi'... agitation will be done to send you back."

He also warned of the dangers of accepting the three-language formula, cautioning that it could erode Tamil’s linguistic prominence. "Dharmendra Pradhan asks, 'why is Tamil Nadu alone opposing this while all other states have accepted?' There is a reason... several states that accepted Hindi stand to lose their mother tongues... Bhojpuri, Bihari, Haryanvi have nearly died because of infiltration by Hindi." With the BJP intensifying its push for the three-language policy through a statewide campaign beginning March 1, tensions over language politics in Tamil Nadu appear set to escalate further, especially as the 2026 Assembly election looms.