Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday issued a sharp rebuke to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying, “Mind your tongue,” after the latter made controversial remarks about Tamil Nadu’s MPs. Though Pradhan withdrew his comments following opposition from DMK MPs, the backlash continued in Tamil Nadu, where ruling party cadres attempted to burn his effigy in multiple locations, including Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, and Tirunelveli.

Addressing Pradhan directly on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin accused him of arrogance and behaving like a king, warning him to be mindful of his words.

“Are you accusing Tamil Nadu’s MPs—who raised concerns about the state's rightful dues—not being disbursed—as being uncivilized?” he asked. “You are insulting the people of Tamil Nadu. Does the esteemed Prime Minister @narendramodi approve of this?”

Stalin also shared a copy of an earlier letter from Pradhan and questioned his stance.

“Didn’t you write to me stating that the Tamil Nadu government had completely rejected the PM SHRI MoU regarding the NEP and the trilingual policy?”

Slamming the Minister, he added, “Mr. Pradhan, we are acting solely based on the sentiments and will of the people! Unlike you, we are not bound by the words of Nagpur.”

Stalin further asserted that Tamil Nadu “will never implement the NEP, nor can anyone force me to do so.”

Demanding clarity, he asked Pradhan, “Can the funds meant for Tamil Nadu students—collected from our taxes—be released or not?”