PM Modi slams Tamil Nadu leaders: No Tamil signatures on letters
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Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a pointed dig at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday amid the ongoing debate over the three-language policy.
After inaugurating the New Pamban Railway Bridge, while addressing a public gathering, Modi mentioned that despite regularly receiving letters from Tamil Nadu leaders, none of them are signed in Tamil.
“Sometimes, I am surprised when I receive letters from some leaders of Tamil Nadu — none of them are signed in Tamil. If we are truly proud of Tamil, then I would request everyone to at least sign their names in Tamil,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister also stated the efforts of the central government in promoting the Tamil language and culture globally.
“We are working continuously to ensure that the Tamil language and Tamil heritage reach every corner of the world,” he added.
The remarks come amid a prolonged war of words between the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and the Centre, with the state accusing the BJP government of attempting to impose Hindi and undermine Tamil language and culture.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Pamban Railway Bridge in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, a significant milestone in India's infrastructure development. This 2.08-kilometre bridge is India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge, featuring a 72.5-metre-long vertical lift span that can be raised up to 17 metres to allow large ships to pass through.
Although Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was absent due to prior engagements in the Nilgiris, the event witnessed the participation of several dignitaries.
Present at the function were Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Tamil Nadu Minister Thangam Thennarasu, BJP leaders K. Annamalai, Sudhakar Reddy, H. Raja, and Nainar Nagenthiran, along with Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon.
(inputs from IANS)