Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin launched a scathing attack on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday, accusing him of speaking with "arrogance" and urging him to "control his tongue." The outburst came amid an escalating war of words over the state’s refusal to adopt the Centre’s PM Shri scheme and other educational policies.

Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu had made no commitment to implementing the PM Shri scheme, a centrally-sponsored initiative aimed at strengthening schools. He challenged Pradhan to clarify whether the Centre would release funds collected from the state, meant for Tamil Nadu’s students, rather than pressuring the state to comply. "Just answer if you can release the funds or not," Stalin wrote in a social media post.

The CM’s remarks followed Pradhan’s letter highlighting Tamil Nadu’s rejection of the New Education Policy, the three-language policy, and the PM Shri MoU. Stalin defended his government’s stance, saying it respected the people’s views, unlike BJP leaders whom he accused of following directives from "Nagpur," a reference to the RSS headquarters. He further alleged that Pradhan insulted Tamil Nadu’s people by withholding funds and using objectionable language against DMK MPs.

The controversy spilled into Parliament earlier in the day when DMK members protested Pradhan’s claim that the Tamil Nadu government was "dishonest" about the PM Shri scheme, leading to a 30-minute adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings. Though Pradhan withdrew the contentious word following objections, and Speaker Om Birla ordered it expunged, the episode intensified the rift.

Stalin questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed Pradhan’s conduct, accusing the minister of deceiving the state. The clash underscores the growing tension between Tamil Nadu’s DMK government and the Centre over educational autonomy and funding disputes.