A Tamil Nadu minister’s remarks about North Indian migrant workers have sparked a political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of fueling social divisions.
Minister’s Comments and BJP Response
The dispute began after DMK agriculture minister M R K Panneer Selvam, speaking at a party event in Chengalpattu, referenced North Indians working in various jobs. He stated, “People from the North are coming here to clean tables, engage in construction works, sell pani puri. Because he learnt only Hindi and had no job opportunity there, he has come here.”
The BJP responded with a post on X, stating that the minister “mocked North Indian migrants as ‘table cleaners and pani puri sellers’” and asserting that “no job is small” and “no citizen is inferior.” The party further alleged a pattern of DMK leaders “deriding migrant workers, especially for being North Indian or for speaking Hindi.”
Concerns Over Rising Violence
The BJP also expressed concern that the comments were particularly dangerous given reports of rising violence against migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. They characterized the statements as “reckless and dangerous, branding an entire community as ‘low standard’ and fuelling hate on the streets.”
The BJP also questioned the silence of leaders within the opposition INDI alliance, directly naming Shri RahulGandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Tejashwi Yadav, and asking if they endorsed the alleged hatred by remaining quiet.
No Response from DMK
As of Tuesday, there was no immediate response from the DMK or the leaders named by the BJP. The Tamil Nadu BJP president also condemned the minister’s remarks and called for a public apology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specifically did the Tamil Nadu minister say?
M R K Panneer Selvam stated that people from North India were coming to Tamil Nadu to “clean tables, engage in construction works, sell pani puri,” and that they came because they “learnt only Hindi and had no job opportunity there.”
How did the BJP respond to the minister’s comments?
The BJP called the remarks derogatory and part of a pattern of the DMK targeting migrant workers. They stated that no job is small and no citizen is inferior.
What other concerns were raised by the BJP?
The BJP expressed concern that the comments were particularly dangerous given reports of rising violence against migrant workers in Tamil Nadu and questioned the silence of leaders from the INDI alliance.
How might this situation evolve as political discourse continues in Tamil Nadu and nationally?
