In a strong critique of Tamil Nadu’s language policy, Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed his surprise at the state’s stance on Hindi. He questioned why Tamil films are dubbed in Hindi if there is such strong opposition to the language in Tamil Nadu. According to him, this contradiction shows that Tamil Nadu is engaging in a double standard, criticizing Hindi while still benefiting financially from Bollywood’s popularity. He also raised concerns about Tamil Nadu’s treatment of migrant workers from Hindi-speaking states, suggesting that the state’s language policy should be more consistent, especially when it comes to workers from regions like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.

Pawan Kalyan’s remarks sparked a response from the DMK, with party leader TKS Elangovan pointing out that Tamil Nadu has followed a two-language policy for decades, with Tamil and English being the primary languages of instruction in schools. He highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s resistance to Hindi dates back to 1938 and was further solidified in 1968. Actor Prakash Raj also weighed in, emphasizing that the resistance to Hindi was not out of hate for the language, but out of a desire to protect Tamil culture and heritage.