synopsis

Amid escalating language war in Tamil Nadu, DMK supporters reportedly defaced Hindi words written on boards of central government offices in Chennai and railway stations to oppose alleged Hindi language imposition.

Amid escalating language war in Tamil Nadu, DMK supporters reportedly defaced and applied black colour on Hindi words written on boards of central government offices in Chennai and railway stations to oppose alleged Hindi language imposition.

The act was reportedly carried out by former DMK District Secretary Tendril Selvaraj and his associates. According to reports, authorities from the Palakkad Railway Division were alerted to the incident, after which the signboard was promptly repainted, restoring the Hindi lettering.

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In a similar act at Palayamkottai Railway Station, DMK cadres, holding party flags, disfigured the Hindi script and inscribed ‘Tamil Vaazhga’ (Long Live Tamil) on the signboard. Later, Palakkad Railway Division repainted the affected signboards, restoring the Hindi lettering.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and DMK supporters have been vocal in their opposition to the three-language policy, protesting the perceived imposition of Hindi in the southern state.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also warned people that Hindi was eating languages like Haryanvi, Rajasthani, Bihari and called the NEP the centre’s attempt at Hindi imposition, a view that all Dravidian parties seem to agree with.

Also read: TN's Udhayanidhi Stalin hits back at Pradhan, rejects NEP, three language policy: 'We'll never accept that'