Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has launched a strong attack on the BJP-led Union government, alleging that Hindi is being imposed in the state through official name changes. His remarks came after a railway office entrance in Tiruchirappalli was reportedly named “Kartavya Dwar.”
In a sharply worded post on X, Stalin accused the Centre of pushing Hindi under what he described as a “one language, three scripts” approach. He claimed that Hindi names are being displayed even when written in Tamil and English scripts, calling it a deliberate attempt to promote a single language identity.
Railway and EPFO Names Spark Controversy
The controversy began after the entrance of the Tiruchirappalli Railway Division office carried the Hindi title “Kartavya Dwar.” Stalin also pointed to Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation offices being referred to as “Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan.”
According to him, such naming practices ignore Tamil linguistic identity and create unnecessary friction in a state known for its strong stand on regional language pride.
Objection to ‘Jal Shakti’ and New Criminal Law Titles
Stalin further criticised the renaming of the Union Ministry of Water Resources as the Ministry of Jal Shakti. He questioned why Hindi or Sanskrit names are increasingly being used in official designations, even when written in English script.
He also raised objections to the Sanskrit-based titles of the newly introduced criminal laws, arguing that these changes reflect a pattern rather than isolated decisions.
MGNREGA Renaming Also Questioned
The Chief Minister alleged that a similar trend was seen in the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, popularly known as the 100-day employment scheme. He suggested that altering established names with Hindi terminology was politically motivated.
“Attack on Tamil Identity”
Calling the developments an attack on Tamil identity and self-respect, Stalin demanded that all Hindi names be removed from central government offices in Tamil Nadu. He insisted that proper Tamil names must be displayed instead.
He warned that if corrective action is not taken, strong opposition from the people of Tamil Nadu is likely. The language debate, once again, has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the state government and the Centre.
