Amid the ongoing language debate in Tamil Nadu, state BJP chief K. Annamalai cited Madurai-born Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to criticise the ruling DMK for opposing the National Education Policy (NEP) and alleging the imposition of Hindi. Sharing a video of Pichai on X, where he talks about learning Hindi in school, Annamalai argued that if a global tech leader could learn three languages, students in Tamil Nadu should have the same opportunity. In a detailed post, he accused Tamil Nadu Minister PTR Thyagarajan and other DMK leaders of "allowing their children or grandchildren" to study three languages while restricting government school students to only two.

"Thiru PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan responded that his sons had a two-language formula during their schooling but did not mention which those two languages were. That two-language formula was First language - English, Second language - French/ Spanish. Is this the two-language formula of the TN Govt?" the BJP leader shared a post on X.

He also questioned the Tamil Nadu government on why it was preventing government school students from learning a third language, whether Indian or foreign, along with Tamil and English at the secondary level, as recommended by the NEP.

"Additionally, Google CEO Thiru Sundar Pichai studied three languages in his school, including Hindi, contrary to your claim," Annamalai shared a post on x, which he tagged to PTR Thyagarajan, states.

The controversy began when a DMK minister criticised the BJP-led central government, stating that no sensible person would implement the NEP. He compared the policy to "teaching an LKG student and a higher education (one) in the same way." Addressing reporters, PTR Thyagarajan asserted that the Centre has been unable to enforce even a two-language policy in several states yet seeks to alter the education system in regions that have already implemented it successfully.

"When they are not even able to implement a one-language policy in several states, they come to us and say you are implementing a two-language policy very well, but now you will have to implement a three-language policy. This raises fear about what if they are trying to bring us down," the Tamil Nadu minister stated.

The minister argued that implementing the NEP is "impossible" in the current era as "there is no funding or infrastructure to support it". He also mentioned that his sons were educated under a two-language policy in their schools. In response, Annamalai questioned whether the minister's sons were Indian or American citizens and urged PTR Thyagarajan to stop the "drama" surrounding the policy's implementation. The debate over language has escalated into a political confrontation between the BJP and DMK. On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin intensified the issue by calling the NEP a "saffronised policy." He accused it of promoting Hindi and undermining the state's education system rather than contributing to national development.