Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi has initiated a privilege motion against Union Education Minister Dharamendra Pradhan, claiming he misled Parliament regarding Tamil Nadu’s position on the PM Shri scheme.
Kanimozhi contends that Pradhan erroneously stated that the Tamil Nadu government had initially consented to an MoU for the scheme before reversing its decision. She further argued that the minister misrepresented a meeting involving Tamil Nadu MPs, falsely asserting that they had supported the scheme initially but later retracted their backing, a claim she vehemently disputed.
The privilege motion will be reviewed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
In a separate incident, Pradhan accused the Tamil Nadu government of being “dishonest” and reversing its commitment to the National Education Policy (NEP), igniting substantial backlash from the DMK. He stated, “They are dishonest and are tarnishing the future of Tamil Nadu’s students, engaging in politics.”
Following protests from DMK leaders, Pradhan retracted certain statements made about Tamil Nadu MPs during a Lok Sabha session. He called on the Tamil Nadu government to prioritize the interests of students over political agendas.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned Pradhan’s comments, describing them as arrogant and disrespectful. “You are insulting the people of Tamil Nadu. Does PM Modi endorse this?” he asked.
The DMK has clarified its position, stating that it cannot fully accept the NEP and that the proposed three-language formula is unacceptable to the state.
