BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of trying to create a regional divide
BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi addresses a press conference in New Delhi. File | Photo credit: PTI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday (Oct 11, 2026) dismissed as baseless the allegations made by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi that the Center is attacking the Tamil language, history and culture, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives to promote Tamil heritage in India and abroad.
In Chennai on Saturday (October 10), Mr Gandhi alleged that the government had launched an “all-out attack” on Tamil culture, language, history and traditions through language introduction and centralization of entrance exams such as NEET.
Against the allegations, MP and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi cited the Prime Minister’s speech at the UN General Assembly in September 2019, where Mr. Modi emphasized the religious and literary aspects of Tamil culture and language.
“The fact is that the Tamil language was given full respect during PM Modi’s tenure… the sacred Sengol, a symbol of Tamil culture, was placed in the new Parliament building (2023). The Congress was against it,” he told a press conference.
Tamil heritage
Mr. Trivedi pointed out the return of the Chola copper plates from The Hague on 16 May 2026; and the establishment of the Subramania Bharati Chair at Banaras Hindu University as a further measure to promote Tamil heritage. “Rahul Gandhi’s focus is on how to incite division, while our aim is to promote the true unity of Indian culture. That is why the programs of Kashi Tamil Sangamam and Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam have been initiated by the Prime Minister,” he said.
Mr Trivedi said Mr Modi presented Thirukkural, a famous work of Tamil literature, to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to India last month. The government has announced plans to set up Thiruvalluvar cultural centers around the world, the first being in Singapore, he said and asked the Congress how many such initiatives were taken during his government.
Besides, the prime minister announced the installation of statues of Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola in July 2025. “All this shows our impartiality,” the BJP leader said, also recounting the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Mahabalipuram hosted by Mr Modi in October 2019.
He said that when the Modi government planned to strengthen the indigenous capabilities of India’s defense sector, it decided to build two corridors: one in northern India, with Uttar Pradesh as the hub; and the other in southern India, in Tamil Nadu, where the BJP was neither in government nor in opposition.
Mr Trivedi also mentioned development projects worth over ₹13,000 crore launched by Mr Modi on Sunday (October 12), apart from rail and road projects undertaken by the Center in Tamil Nadu in the recent past.
“This divisive game is being played from Pune to Chennai and in both places it falls far below the level of reality,” he said, accusing Mr Gandhi of trying to create a conflict between north and south India.
Mr Trivedi said such attempts would not succeed. He pointed out that at the last Kashi Tamil Sangamam, Mr. Modi’s speech was translated into Tamil using artificial intelligence and said translations into 22 Indian languages were now available in Parliament. “Within a few years, technology will make it easy to translate any language, both spoken and written, solving the problem completely,” he said.
Published – 11 October 2026 22:02 IST