Edappadi K. Palaniswami echoes Amit Shah's concern that mother tongue sidelined in favour of English

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday (June 21, 2025) echoed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's concern that the mother tongue is being sidelined in favour of English.
Responding to Mr. Shah's recent remark that English-speaking Indians may soon feel ashamed, Mr. Palaniswami said the mother tongue holds an important place in society and added that everybody has their own views.
'He has spoken about the importance of the mother tongue. His concern is that more importance is being given to English than to native languages,' Mr. Palaniswami told reporters at the Coimbatore airport.
On the Keezhadi excavations, Mr. Palaniswami said the party had already explained its role. 'IT Wing secretary K. Pandiarajan has detailed the steps taken during the tenure of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and by the government that followed. All necessary clarifications were provided,' he said.
Asked about the Muruga Bhaktargal conference being held in Madurai, he said, 'In a democratic country, every citizen and organisation has the right to worship the deity of their choice. Those organising the Muruga Bhaktargal conference are exercising that right. I extend my wishes.'
On allegations that DMK functionaries used obscene language in public, Mr. Palaniswami said, 'We have already condemned such remarks. People are disturbed by them. In the 2026 Assembly elections, people will give a fitting response.'
On International Yoga Day, he said, 'Yoga is important for physical health. The Prime Minister Modi is leading these efforts. I extend my greetings.'

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Mobile phones and landlines ultimately are overseen by Iran's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology. But the country's intelligence services have long been believed to be monitoring conversations. 'It would be hard for anybody else to hack. Of course, it is possible it is Israeli. But I don't think they have an incentive to do this,' said Mehdi Yahyanejad, a tech entrepreneur and internet freedom activist. Marwa Fatafta, Berlin-based policy and advocacy director for digital rights group Access Now, suggested it could be 'a form of psychological warfare by the Israelis.' She said it fits a past pattern by Israel of using extensive direct messaging to Lebanese and Palestinians during campaigns in Gaza and against Hezbollah. The messages, she said, appear aimed at 'tormenting' already anxious Iranians abroad. Trying new ways to contact relatives Ellie is one of a lucky few who found a way to reach relatives since the blackout. 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The messages are making relatives feel helpless M, a woman in the UK, has been trying to reach her mother-in-law, who is immobile and lives in Tehran's northeast, which has been pummeled by Israeli bombardment throughout the week. When she last spoke to her family in Iran, they were mulling whether she should evacuate from the city. Then the blackout was imposed, and they lost contact. Since then she has heard through a relative that the woman was in the ICU with respiratory problems. When she calls, she gets the same bizarre message as the woman in the UK, a lengthy mantra. 'Close your eyes and picture yourself in a place that brings you peace and happiness,' it says. 'Maybe you are walking through a serene forest, listening to the rustle of leaves and birds chirping. Or you're by the seashore, hearing the calming sound of waves crashing on the sand.' The only feeling the message does instill in her, she said, is 'helplessness.'