Tamil Actress Resigns from BJP Over National Education Policy

Tamil actress and BJP leader Ranjana Nachiyar has resigned from the party in protest against the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Her decision comes amid an ongoing verbal battle between the Tamil Nadu government and the central government over the policy's implementation.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has strongly criticized the central government, accusing it of imposing the three-language formula—Hindi, English, and a regional language—on the state through the NEP. Stalin has argued that this policy is an attempt to force Hindi on Tamil Nadu, which he claims threatens the prominence of Tamil.

Ranjana Nachiyar, opposing the three-language formula, stated that enforcing NEP is unacceptable. She declared her complete opposition to the formula, arguing that it undermines the significance of the Tamil language. She emphasized her commitment to protecting Tamil identity and culture and, for this reason, announced her resignation from the BJP.

The Tamil Nadu government maintains that implementing the NEP could endanger regional languages in the long run. Many in the state believe that the policy is a means to impose Hindi, sparking widespread discontent. Stalin has warned that Tamil’s very existence could be at risk if the NEP is enforced.

However, the central government has dismissed these concerns. It has questioned Stalin’s stance, arguing that learning an additional language benefits students rather than harms them. Furthermore, the central government has made it clear that states refusing to implement the three-language formula will not receive education-related funds.