THE WEEK Tamil Nadu Leadership Summit | Udhayanidhi Stalin says youth will reject hate politics and linguistic imposition

At the THE WEEK Tamil Nadu Leadership Summit in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin delivered a combative and politically charged address, positioning the state’s youth at the heart of the Dravidian movement’s future.

Challenging the perception that young Indians are disengaged from politics, Udhayanidhi said today’s generation is more informed and questioning than ever before. Growing up in a digital ecosystem, he argued, young people fact-check political claims just as they compare products or services online. “They value equality, diversity, dignity and self-respect,” he said, describing these as foundational to the Dravidian ideological framework shaped by leaders such as Periyar E. V. Ramasamy.

The minister accused the BJP of promoting centralisation, uniformity and social hierarchy, in contrast to what he termed Tamil Nadu’s commitment to federalism and social justice. A significant portion of his speech focused on the three-language formula under the National Education Policy, which he described as a “tool for linguistic imposition.” Tamil Nadu, he asserted, would continue to resist any attempt to dilute its two-language policy.

In a pointed remark, he noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed a recent gathering in Tamil Nadu in English, despite frequently speaking in Hindi elsewhere. “That is Tamil Nadu’s impact,” he said, suggesting that the state’s firm stand on language has compelled national leaders to adapt.

Udhayanidhi also mounted a strong defence of reservation policies, calling them constitutional remedies for historical injustices rather than acts of charity. He accused sections of the elite of spreading misinformation about affirmative action and reiterated that the Dravidian movement’s core mission remains social equity.

Highlighting the DMK government’s youth-focused initiatives since 2021, he cited monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 for college students under schemes such as Pudhumai Penn, large-scale laptop distribution to support digital learning and AI readiness, and skill training under the Naan Mudhalvan programme. According to him, nearly 50 lakh youth have received skill certifications and around five lakh have secured job placements through the initiative.

He also claimed a surge in startup growth under the current administration, contrasting it with the previous regime. In competitive examinations, he pointed to new state-backed coaching and financial support systems for UPSC aspirants, saying that the number of successful candidates from Tamil Nadu has risen in recent years.

Closing on a defiant note, he declared that the DMK would not be intimidated by central investigative agencies or political pressure. “We belong to the Dravidian stock,” he said. “We will stand firm and never surrender.”