Has DMK Marked BJP as a New Rival by Reviving Anti-Hindi Plank?

DMK leader Stalin has threatened to launch an agitation if the BJP-led central government imposes Hindi in TN.

More than half a century after Madras state was rocked by widespread protests over the Centre’s attempt to make Hindi as the primary official language, DMK’s Working President MK Stalin has revived the anti-Hindi plank once again.

While the Dravidian leader has threatened to launch an agitation if the BJP-led central government imposes Hindi on Tamil Nadu, the DMK has directed its district secretaries to take classes for the youth on the issue.

The decision follows a number of measures to ‘force’ Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states. While it began with the use of Hindi on milestones on National Highways, the chorus of voices in Tamil Nadu got louder with the Centre’s proposal for Ministers, and other dignitaries including the President to deliver speeches in Hindi.

Attempt to Stay Relevant Or A Reaction To Pressing Issue?

There is a perception created in the media that the DMK is creating an issue out of nothing. But these things didn’t happen earlier. DMK is reacting to a new situation. Hindi was not made compulsory in the last 60 years. The BJP is reviving Hindi imposition and this is the reaction by the party.

A Saravanan, DMK Spokesperson

And though the revival of the anti-Hindi movement may be a reaction to a political development, there could be more to Stalin’s targeted attack on the BJP.

Over the last few weeks, the DMK has hit out at the Modi government on a series of issues – from NEET and the farmers’ protest in New Delhi to the fishermen’s issue. He has also not shied away from blaming the Centre for the present political turmoil in Tamil Nadu.

At a time when various livelihood issues are affecting the people of Tamil Nadu, the BJP government at the Centre is unleashing all government agencies against the AIADMK and completely destabilising the state administration.

A Saravanan, DMK Spokesperson

With the Dravidian heavyweight upping the ante against the Modi government, the question is, does the DMK believe it has a new rival in the BJP?

Saravanan dismisses the idea, stating, “It is not a threat or a rival. The DMK as a party has in the past shown a key interest in national issues, things that affect the public.”

A Rival In The Long-Run?

It appears the way in which the AIADMK factions are fighting, the party is headed for an imminent collapse. The BJP is a long-term player in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Stalin is picking on the Centre as he thinks that the BJP will be the DMK’s main rival a decade from now.

RK Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor, Frontline

The RSS meet in Coimbatore in March and BJP President Amit Shah’s scheduled trip to the state next week are seen as the saffron party’s push to strengthening its base in Tamil Nadu. Radhakrishnan observes, “By raising the anti-Hindi agitation, Stalin is ensuring that the constituencies the BJP is trying to mould doesn’t materialise.”

Returning To Its Roots

Veteran journalist S Murari, however, argues that the BJP is no rival to the DMK in Tamil Nadu. He, however, contends, “The anti-Hindi protest by the DMK is one plan against the BJP. But it won’t work. The language issue is clichéd ”.

Murari explains that the revival of the Hindi imposition issue is the DMK’s attempt to return to its core ideology.

Whether it clicks or not, it is part of the core Dravidian ideology. This is posturing and sloganeering. In the 60’s, there was every reason to fight Hindi being given primacy. But it is no longer the case, regional languages are allowed in the UPSC exams, and this may be because of the past struggle

S Murari, Veteran Journalist

Radhakrishnan argues that political parties in Tamil Nadu have failed to see the larger ramifications of the Centre’s recent proposals to ‘impose’ Hindi.

This is not about Tamil. This is happening across Central departments and it is affecting people’s ability to work. They will find a larger constituency if political parties call it out as a practical problem. By saying it is an emotional issue, they will lose connect with a mass that is looking for development.

Radhakrishnan

While the DMK’s anti-Hindi sloganeering may not pay dividend in the immediate future, the party has ensured that it has marked out its new rival.

And if the AIADMK does indeed collapse in the future, Radhakrishnan explains that those wanting to uphold the Dravidian ideology would gravitate naturally towards the DMK, while others would move to the BJP.

“It would essentially be a fight between a Dravidian entity and a non-Dravidian entity – one that stands for Indian integration, nationalism. It’ll be Tamil nationalism versus Indian nationalism,” he foresees.

(This article was originally published in The News Minute)