MK Stalin Slams Dharmendra Pradhan’s ‘Dishonest’ Remark, Questions PM Modi’s Stance

MK Stalin Slams Dharmendra Pradhan’s ‘Dishonest’ Remark: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin raged against Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who termed the state government as "dishonest" during Lok Sabha proceedings in the implementation of PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme and "ruining" students' future.

MK Stalin, in a sharply worded post in Tamil on X, questioned the "arrogance" of Dharmendra Pradhan and said he was speaking like an "arrogant king", and there had to be "discipline" for the one who had "disrespected" the people of Tamil Nadu.

"Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who thinks himself as king, speaking with arrogance should have control over his tongue," MK Stalin wrote on X.

MK Stalin categorically said the Tamil Nadu government did not come forward for implementing the PM Shri scheme and when that there is no case, he said nobody could lure him any further in this regard.

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"Just answer if you could release the fund or not, which was collected from us and which is meant for the students of Tamil Nadu," the chief minister said.

தன்னை மன்னரென எண்ணிக் கொண்டு ஆணவத்துடன் பேசும் ஒன்றியக் கல்வி அமைச்சர் @dpradhanbjp அவர்களுக்கு நாவடக்கம் வேண்டும்!

தமிழ்நாட்டின் நிதியைத் தராமல் ஏமாற்றும் நீங்கள் தமிழ்நாட்டு எம்.பி.க்களைப் பார்த்து அநாகரிகமானவர்கள் என்பதா?

தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்களை அவமானப்படுத்துகிறீர்கள்.… pic.twitter.com/wKQ7FhX3rj

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 10, 2025

Referring to Pradhan's letter to him that outlined Tamil Nadu's rejection of the new education policy, 3-language policy, and PM Shri MoU, he stated that the DMK government actually functioned keeping in view the people's views unlike the BJP leaders who come under "words from Nagpur".

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned

On Monday, the Lok Sabha Proceedings were adjourned for some 30 minutes due to Dharmendra Pradhan's remarks to which the DMK members protested.

Replying to a query regarding the PM SHRI scheme, Pradhan said the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government had changed its stand on implementing the centrally sponsored scheme which envisaged strengthening the schools managed by the central, state, or local bodies.

MoU should've been signed with the centre promising that the state would implement the National Education Policies 2020 in return for central funds.

"The Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to sign the MoU. But now they have changed the stand. Many non-BJP-ruled states, including Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, have signed the agreement," he said.

Pradhan said, “They are dishonest and they are ruining the future of the students of Tamil Nadu. They are doing politics.”

At one point of time, the government of Tamil Nadu had agreed to implement the PM SHRI scheme, and many (DMK MPs) came to see him and conveyed this to him, said the minister.

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“But when they went back, they made a U-Turn. They are doing mischief with the life of the students. They are misleading the people and doing injustice to students of Tamil Nadu. They are undemocratic...,” he claimed.

Pradhan said MK Stalin had also agreed initially “but suddenly some super CM appeared and they took a U-Turn. They just want to do politics”.

"Today is March 10. We have still 20 days left in the month of March," he said, Indicating the time left for the Tamil Nadu government to sign on the MoU regarding the PM SHRI scheme.

Taking strong exception to the minister's remarks, the DMK members registered strong protests by raising slogans against the central government.

MK Stalin reacts sharply

Stalin, in his post on X, said the Centre was the one who cheated by not giving funds to Tamil Nadu and called the Tamil Nadu MPs as uncivilized.

Indeed, he is called 'uncivilized', condemning Pradhan for allegedly using a word to target the DMK. "You are insulting the people of Tamil Nadu. Does PM Narendra Modi accept this,?" he asked.

Speaking to news agency ANI in the Parliament complex, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran said, " ...Dharmendra Pradhan lied by saying that DMK government had agreed (to sign NEP). The DMK never agreed to the NEP or the three-language policy, all we said that we can't...why should our students in Tamil Nadu learn three languages whereas students from north India learn only one language...we are not against Hindi...if there are students who want to learn Hindi, they are free to do so but it should not be compulsory..."

DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said, "DMK MP raised the issue where Union government has not released funds for Tamil Nadu saying that unless the State government agrees to sign the NEP, the three-language policy, funds more than ₹2000 crore won't be released for the schools. The (Union Education) Minister got up and said that MPs from Tamil Nadu and opposition parties had met him and agreed to sign NEP, which is far from truth...our CM has written to the (Union Education) Minister and PM that we won't be signing the NEP...our CM has made this very clear and we have not changed it...Union Education) Minister called our govt, people and Parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu liars, he hurt our feelings and Tamil Nadu's pride by calling us uncivilised...we condemn this strongly..."

Minister withdraws the word

Pradhan then withdrew the word that was objected to by the DMK MPs, with a direction from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that the comment be expunged from the records.

Responding to Kanimozhi, Pradhan said, "My esteemed colleague, one of my dearest sisters and senior member honourable Kanimozhi has raised two points. In one point, she has said I have used a word which I should not have been used for the members from Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu government and people of Tamil Nadu".

“Lets don't mix it. Let me withdraw it. I withdraw my word if it has hurt anyone. I have no issues on that,” he said.

NEP row

Last month, MK Stalin said that he would stand firm on implementation of the NEP in Tamil Nadu, even if it were offered to give ₹10,000 crore.

The chief minister said the opposition to NEP was not just "one related to imposition of Hindi" but there were many more things which would pose a great threat to the future of students and the social justice system.

The PM SHRI scheme will incur an overall cost of ₹27,360 crores over a period of five years out of which ₹18,128 crores will be the central share.

The total number of schools selected from 32 states and UTs is 12,079 with 1,329 primary schools, 3,340 elementary schools, 2,921 secondary schools, and 4,489 senior secondary schools.

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