A week before this incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami rejected the three-language formula proposed in the Centre’s New Education Policy. Tamil Nadu, he said, will follow the existing two-language formula that was instituted to resist imposition of Hindi. Tamil identity politics has since evolved to speak for a global Tamil community and built filial relations with people of Tamil origin in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South Africa etc, espousing its causes and rights. Tamil identity politics, now, is invoked by the Dravidian outfits mainly to mobilise people against national parties and the Centre as well as to paper over social and economic fault lines. With Assembly polls scheduled next year, and the BJP exploring options in the state, it may find a new release in Tamil Nadu.

Source: Indian Express August 15, 2020 22:11 UTC