DMK president M.K. Stalin on Friday (October 2, 2026) condemned the inclusion of place names in Hindi on a State Highways Department road signboard in Thoothukudi district.

In a post on X, he stated: “Until now, Tamil Nadu was only facing the Union government’s Hindi imposition. Now, the State government itself is doing that job.”

“Is this yet another attempt by the TVK government, which tests the waters in everything and takes a ‘U-turn’ once opposition flares up?” he asked. Condemning the move, he emphasised that the two-language policy is Tamil Nadu’s core vital principle and warned not to “play with it.”

‘Two-language policy vital for TVK’

Meanwhile, providing clarification on the issue, Tamil Nadu Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna stated: “The two-language policy is a vital principle for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam as well.” He further added, “Two officials responsible for this lapse — an Assistant Engineer and an Assistant Divisional Engineer — were suspended yesterday (Thursday, October 1). Moreover, the specific signboard installed in three languages was replaced immediately, and a new signboard written in two languages has been installed at the same spot.”