Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has called for promoting the slogan of protecting the mother tongue to counter "deception" and ensure the state's progress.

In a letter, Stalin questioned the Tamil Nadu BJP leaders' concern over the removal of Hindi signboards at railway stations, asking whether they had shown similar concern for Tamil in northern states.

“They should have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan whether Tamil and other Dravidian languages are represented on name boards at events like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam and Kumbh Mela,” he said.

Stalin reaffirmed Tamil pride, stating that "Tamil consciousness will not be destroyed" and vowed to uphold the language before law and justice. He credited the state's progress in education and employment opportunities to the two-language policy implemented by the Dravidian movement.

Accusing the Centre of attempting to hinder Tamil Nadu's development, the Chief Minister asserted that the state would continue to resist such efforts. “To oppose deception and protect a prosperous Tamil Nadu, we will raise the slogan of protecting the mother tongue along with the voice for statehood,” he stated.