In a sharp critique aimed at Tamil Nadu's DMK Chief MK Stalin, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has accused him of using the language policy debate for "selfish political interests," warning that such controversies could harm youth employment opportunities across the country. Adityanath, in an interview with PTI, defended the teaching of regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada in Uttar Pradesh schools, stating that it has contributed positively to job creation rather than hindering it.

"In UP, we are teaching languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, and Marathi. Has UP become smaller due to this? New employment opportunities are being created, and jobs are being provided," Adityanath stated, further emphasizing the benefits of a diverse language curriculum.

The Uttar Pradesh CM intensified his criticism of the DMK government, accusing Stalin of inciting unnecessary controversies driven by narrow political motives. "Those creating this language controversy are not just fulfilling political motives but are indirectly attacking the employment prospects of the youth," he added, taking a direct swipe at the DMK leadership.

This marks the second time in less than a week that Adityanath has attacked Stalin over the issue of language imposition. Last week, he accused the DMK chief of dividing the country along regional and linguistic lines to protect his political vote bank, ahead of Tamil Nadu's elections in 2024.

In response to Adityanath's comments, Congress leader Karti Chidambaram, an ally of the DMK, questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's language policies. Chidambaram demanded that the CM disclose how many teachers were actually teaching Tamil in UP schools. "How many teachers are there in UP schools for Tamil? How many students are choosing Tamil as an option? Will the UP government provide these details?" he posted on X, criticizing the imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu.

The clash revolves around the 'three-language formula' embedded in the New Education Policy (NEP) of 2020. While the BJP, led by Adityanath, views this as a means to boost employment opportunities for youth across regions, Tamil Nadu has long opposed the idea, arguing that it is a covert attempt to impose Hindi on the state, threatening its cultural identity.