Uproar in Parliament over NEP as Pradhan, DMK lock horns

NEW DELHI: The Modi govt and DMK clashed on the first day of the resumed Budget session, with the latter questioning the govt over the

three-language policy

and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan accusing the Tamil Nadu govt and the governing party of going back on their commitment to sign the MoU for NEP.
The minister attacked DMK with strong words, claiming that TN was ready to implement NEP but reversed its stand because of pressure from some ‘super CM’, and accused the party of being undemocratic and anti-students, leading to protests and a couple of adjournments. He later withdrew his remark on Speaker Om Birla’s initiative, and was expunged. In the evening, DMK filed a

privilege motion

against Pradhan, accusing him of misleading the House and tarnishing the image of Tamil Nadu.

Clash began after DMK MP claimed TN funds ‘diverted’

DMK MP K Kanimozhi, in the privilege notice, also alleged that the minister’s conduct attacked her dignity as a woman, and “his indecent remarks” constituted an outrage to modesty and harassment, while sending a “harmful message” that any female member can be attacked verbally, humiliated and harassed.
DMK MPs disrupted the proceedings during question hour, opposing the Centre’s three-language policy and linking of the implementation of NEP as a pre-condition for release of central grants. Congress MPs, too, joined DMK, against Pradhan’s remarks. Under NEP, every state has to sign an MoU in order to receive

central funds

for infrastructure upgrades and other financial assistance.
With language policy and delimitation on top of its agenda, DMK used legislative proceedings on the first day to hammer home its talking points, with even the “lading bill” becoming a platform for sniping at BJP. DMK MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, speaking on the legislation, caustically said there did not seem to be an equivalent of “lading” in Hindi, because govt had not changed the name of the bill from its earlier version — echoing DMK’s complaint that Modi govt has enacted laws without the customary English titles like the three criminal laws. Veeraswamy said govt should consider Tamils as a part of India. Citing a Tamil proverb, he went on to say that Tamils consider every person in contact as their relatives, but the treasury benches “treat us” as enemies and not political foes.
The clash started after DMK MP T Sumathy said around Rs 2,000 crore originally meant for TN for PM-SHRI has been diverted to other states due to its opposition to NEP. She said Centre was using financial allocation for school education as a vengeful tool against the state.
During the clash, the Speaker was infuriated at certain remarks made by DMK’s Dayanidhi Maran, who had trooped into the well shouting slogans against the govt. Birla dared Maran to repeat the same words on record from his seat, and action would be taken against him. Birla also urged the treasury benches to bring a motion against Maran’s remarks against the Chair. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju immediately rose to condemn Maran’s behaviour, and promised to bring a related motion.
Pradhan said Centre was ready with the funds, but the state must sign an MoU by March 15 to implement NEP. He said Kanimozhi was aware that TN was ready to sign the MoU. “Let her be honest to people of Tamil Nadu that she only came to know today. Their higher education minister wrote to us. They are dishonest... It is unfortunate in democracy. They are trying to cover up their failure and doing politics,” he said.