Udhayanidhi Stalin Reignites Hindi Imposition Debate Ahead of 2026 Polls

Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has once again reignited the long-running language debate by vowing that his state will oppose any attempt at Hindi imposition by the Centre, invoking decades of regional resistance to linguistic dominance and asserting that Tamil identity must be protected from enforced adoption of Hindi - a sentiment rooted in historical anti-Hindi agitations that helped shape the state's politics.  He has in fact said that Hindi is the language that has devoured several other languages and that he would not let that happen in the state.The BJP has defended its language policies, insisting there is no "imposition" of Hindi, framing the remarks as political grandstanding ahead of elections and underscoring the constitutional status of multiple languages including English and regional tongues. Critics from the Centre have also accused Stalin of needless provocation, while DMK leaders argue their stance simply reflects federalism and respect for linguistic diversity. The big question, Can this resurgence of the Hindi-imposition debate genuinely reflect grassroots concerns, or is it being amplified as a strategic wedge issue in the run-up to the 2026 elections?