On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that all Indian languages are "mainstream" and that they complement and influence one another, despite Tamil Nadu's adamant opposition to the National Education scheme's (NEP) three-language scheme. Prime Minister Modi emphasised India's linguistic variety and dispelled any idea of inter-language hostility while speaking at the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi. 

"There has never been any animosity among Indian languages. Languages have always influenced and enriched each other. Often, when efforts are made to create divisions based on language, our shared linguistic heritage provides a strong counterargument. It is our social responsibility to distance ourselves from these misconceptions and to embrace and enrich all languages. That is why today we are looking at all the languages of the country as mainstream languages," PM Modi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The administration is dedicated to advancing education in all major languages, including Marathi, the prime minister added. "We are promoting education in all major languages, including Marathi. The youth of Maharashtra can easily pursue higher education, engineering, and medical studies in Marathi. We have changed the mindset that overlooked talent due to a lack of English proficiency. We all say that literature is the mirror of society. It also guides society's direction. Therefore, literary conferences and institutions connected to literature play a very important role in the country," he said.

PM Modi's comments coincide with the ongoing dispute between the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and the Center over the NEP's three-language formula, which calls for Hindi, English, and a regional language. The Tamil Nadu government should "rise above politics" on the matter, according to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who said that the NEP provides flexibility and shouldn't be mistaken for an attempt to impose Hindi. 

In a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Pradhan said, "The continued opposition to NEP 2020 for political reasons deprives students, teachers, and educational institutions in Tamil Nadu of the immense opportunities and resources that this policy offers. The policy is designed to be flexible, allowing states to customise its implementation to suit their unique educational needs." However, the DMK rejected these claims and declared its support for the state's long-standing English and Tamil two-language policy. The party has long fought "Hindi imposition," a sentiment that dates back to the anti-Hindi agitation of 1965, which claimed the lives of numerous pro-Tamil activists.