DMK, TN language rights war raging like whirlwind in Maharashtra: CM Stalin
Chennai, Jul 5 (PTI): The war against the imposition of Hindi being waged by the DMK and people of Tamil Nadu has transcended borders and is now raging like a whirlwind in Maharashtra, Chief Minister M K Stalin claimed on Saturday.
The BJP, which was conducting itself "illegally and anarchically" by saying that it would allocate funds only if Hindi was taught as a third language in Tamil Nadu schools, has retreated for the second time, fearing a popular uprising in Maharashtra, where it was ruling, he said.
"The upsurge and speeches of the victory celebration rally held in Mumbai today under the leadership of brother #UddhavThackeray against the imposition of Hindi are very encouraging," Stalin, who is the president of DMK, said in a lengthy post on the social media platform X.
Earlier in the day, the estranged Thackeray cousins shared a public stage after two decades at a victory rally in Mumbai to celebrate the withdrawal of two government resolutions seeking to introduce Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schools.
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray said he and his cousin Raj Thackeray have "come together to stay together."
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said the three-language formula imposed by the state government was a precursor to its plan to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra as he shared the political stage with his cousin Uddhav after almost 20 years.
"I know very well that the Union Government, which has made the development of Hindi and Sanskrit its full-time priority, will have no answer to the questions raised by Raj Thackeray on what was the third language taught in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan or why Hindi-speaking states are backward, and why Hindi is being thrust on the people of progressing states that do not speak Hindi," Stalin said in the post.
He sought to know if the Centre would change its decision of revenge on Tamil Nadu for saying that it would release Rs 2,152 crore from the Integrated Education Scheme (Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) only if the state accepted the new education policy that imposed Hindi and Sanskrit in the name of the three-language policy.
"Will it immediately release the funds that are legally required for the education of Tamil Nadu school children? The struggle waged by the people of Tamil Nadu against Hindi imposition is not only emotional but also intellectual and logical to protect India's plural culture and not out of hatred," the Chief Minister asserted.
He hoped that the 'uprising' in Maharashtra would open the eyes of those who were 'parroting' the words that one would get a job if one studies Hindi.
He further said, "We will not allow deceit in the allocation of funds to Tamil Nadu nor arrogance of refusing to recognise Keezhadi civilisation, to continue. The BJP must find a remedy for the betrayal that it is committing against Tamils and Tamil Nadu. Otherwise, Tamil Nadu will teach them and their new allies an unforgettable lesson once again," Stalin said and appealed to the people to unite and fight against injustice.
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Chlorine gas leaks at defunct water purification plant in Pune; 24 persons hospitalised
Pune, Apr 30 (PTI): At least 22 residents and two firemen were hospitalised after a chlorine gas leakage at Kondhwa in Pune after midnight on Thursday, fire officials said.
The leak originated from an abandoned tank containing chlorine at a defunct water purification plant godown in the Gangadham area around 1 am, they said.
"Following the leak and the subsequent spread of gas, residents in the vicinity complained of breathlessness. Upon receiving the call, fire teams were dispatched. Several citizens were evacuated, and the leaking tank was patched using safety equipment," a fire official said.
During the operation, 22 residents and two fire personnel complained of breathlessness and were rushed to the hospital, he said.
A man who previously operated the water purification plant at the site said he had dismantled the unit, but the tank containing chlorine appeared to have remained unattended and developed a leak.
"All the affected residents and the two fire personnel are out of danger and currently under observation at Sassoon General Hospital," the official said.
