New Delhi buzzes with political heat after DMK Minister MRK Panneerselvam sparked outrage with comments targeting North Indians working in Tamil Nadu. In a public event, he described migrants from Hindi-speaking states as coming only for menial jobs like cleaning tables, construction labor, and selling street food like pani puri. The statement has ignited a firestorm across party lines, with leaders uniting to condemn it as divisive and anti-national.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan led the charge, dismissing the remarks as a cheap bid for headlines. ‘Some politicians stoop to such levels just to stay in the news,’ he said. Under PM Narendra Modi’s NDA government, the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ guides inclusive growth, he emphasized. No inflammatory rhetoric can derail India’s unified vision.
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev called the comments ‘deeply unfortunate,’ highlighting India’s ethos of unity in diversity. ‘Statements from high office reflect a negative mindset,’ he remarked, accusing DMK of sowing discord between North and South ahead of elections out of desperation.
SP MP Avdhesh Prasad labeled it an insult to the nation, reminding that India thrives on its mosaic of languages, cultures, and regions. Bihar Minister Deepak Prakash echoed the sentiment, urging unity and brotherhood over such unbecoming rhetoric.
Even Congress MP Tariq Anwar took a measured stance, suggesting no malice was intended but pointing to harsh realities of migration driven by job scarcity, especially from Bihar. AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan exposed DMK’s hypocrisy, noting their recent outreach to migrant workers with Hindi posters during bypolls.
As the controversy rages, it underscores the fragility of regional sentiments in India’s diverse democracy. Political leaders must prioritize harmony to uphold the nation’s foundational unity.