- Tamil Nadu suspended two officials for Hindi highway signage.
- DMK leader Stalin criticized government for perceived Hindi imposition.
- Government reiterated commitment to its Tamil-English two-language policy.
The Tamil Nadu government has suspended two officials over the use of Hindi on a State Highway signboard, amid a political row over the state’s established two-language policy. The government’s action came after images of a highway signboard carrying Hindi lettering surfaced and triggered criticism. The controversy has now drawn a sharp response from DMK president M K Stalin, who accused the TVK-led government of taking a position that conflicts with Tamil Nadu’s long-standing approach to language policy.
Two Officials Suspended
The state government’s decision to suspend two officials followed the controversy surrounding the highway signboard. The official statement said: “Two officials suspended for use of Hindi words in signboard on State Highway.”
The signboard in question was reported to have been installed in Sathankulam in the Thoothukudi district by the State Highways Department. Unlike the usual Tamil and English signage, the board also carried Hindi, leading to criticism after images circulated.
News Alert! ‘Two officials suspended for use of Hindi words in signboard on State Highway,’ says TN govt pic.twitter.com/dLZqnSl3kM
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 2, 2026
The move also comes at a time when the TVK government has publicly maintained that Tamil Nadu will continue with its two-language policy. In September, School Education Minister Rajmohan Arumugam said the government remained committed to the existing Tamil-English policy while responding to the wider debate over Hindi.
Stalin Questions Hindi Signboard
Stalin, referring to clippings of highway name boards featuring Hindi letters, said Tamil Nadu had for years faced attempts by the Union government to impose Hindi. He questioned why the state government itself was now allowing Hindi to appear on its highway signage.
“Now, the State government itself is imposing Hindi. Is this the change they spoke about?” he asked, as per reports.
The DMK president also questioned whether the signboard represented another instance of the government changing its position after opposition criticism.
‘Reels Government’ Attack
Stalin stepped up his criticism by describing the TVK administration as a “Reels government”. He alleged that the government was conducting its administration with an eye on North Indian social media influencers.
“Reels government” was used by Stalin as part of his broader criticism of the administration’s approach to the language issue. He urged the government to reconsider its position and warned against any move that could affect the state’s established language policy.
He also stressed the significance of the two-language policy to Tamil Nadu and cautioned the government against interfering with it.
Language Policy Back In Spotlight
For Stalin and the DMK, the appearance of Hindi on a state government signboard has become an issue of consistency, particularly given Tamil Nadu’s opposition to what the party describes as Hindi imposition.
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