Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Tamil Nadu Removes Hindi Signboard After Stalin Attacks Vijay Government
A road sign in Tamil Nadu included words written in Hindi, Tamil, and English.
This upset MK Stalin, a major Tamil Nadu politician.
He said the sign might show that the state government was forcing Hindi on people.
The government quickly removed the Hindi words.
It also suspended two highways department officials.
Officials warned that people who go against Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy could face strong action.
Tamil Nadu’s policy uses Tamil and English.
Language is a very sensitive political issue in the state because of earlier protests against Hindi.
Hindi lettering was added to a signboard on State Highway-93 in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.
The signboard listed destinations in Tamil, English, and Hindi.
The Tamil Nadu government removed the Hindi lettering within hours of the controversy.
Two highways department officials, including an assistant divisional engineer and assistant engineer, were suspended.
MK Stalin accused the government of Hindi imposition and defended Tamil Nadu’s Tamil-English two-language policy.
- Who
- MK Stalin, the Tamil Nadu government, and two highways department officials were involved in the dispute.
- What
- A Hindi inscription on a Tamil Nadu state-highway signboard prompted political criticism, its removal, and the suspension of two officials.
- When
- The signboard was removed within hours of the controversy; the government announced the suspensions on Friday.
- Where
- State Highway-93, between Sathankulam and Nazareth in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Stalin said the sign represented Hindi imposition, while the government said officials acting against Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy would face action.
Criticism of Hindi Inclusion
Government Enforcement Response
Meaning of the signboard
Criticism of Hindi Inclusion
MK Stalin described the Hindi lettering as possible Hindi imposition and warned the government not to undermine Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy.
Government Enforcement Response
The Tamil Nadu government removed the lettering and warned that stringent action would be taken against officials acting against the state’s Tamil-English policy.
Political conduct
Criticism of Hindi Inclusion
Stalin accused the TVK government of making decisions and then taking a U-turn after protests or opposition emerged.
Government Enforcement Response
The government’s rapid removal of the Hindi lettering and suspension of officials demonstrated a corrective response, according to the reported actions.
- Location
- Sathankulam-Nazareth state highway, Thoothukudi district
- Highway
- State Highway-93
- Languages on sign
- Tamil, English, and Hindi
- Government response
- Hindi lettering removed from the signboard
- Disciplinary action
- An assistant divisional engineer and an assistant engineer were suspended
- State language policy
- Tamil Nadu’s established two-language policy is Tamil and English
- Political critic
- DMK president and former chief minister MK Stalin