A controversial remark by Tamil Nadu’s DMK Minister MRK Panneerselvam has united politicians from across the spectrum in condemnation. Speaking at a public gathering, he stereotyped North Indian migrants as limited to low-skill jobs in Tamil Nadu—table cleaning, building sites, and pani puri stalls—igniting accusations of regional bigotry.
The backlash was swift and sharp. Chirag Paswan, Union Minister and a key NDA figure, branded it a publicity stunt. He reaffirmed the Modi government’s commitment to equitable development for all Indians, regardless of origin. ‘Headlines won’t alter our path of unity,’ Paswan asserted.
BJP’s Pratul Shahdev decried the ‘regrettable’ words as a betrayal of India’s diversity principle. Facing electoral setbacks, DMK is allegedly fanning North-South divides to create unrest, he charged.
From Bihar, voices rang loud: SP’s Avdhesh Prasad called it a national affront, celebrating India’s blend of directions, dialects, and traditions. Minister Deepak Prakash demanded strict censure, insisting politicians uphold fraternal bonds.
Congress’s Tariq Anwar offered nuance, linking migration to employment woes in states like Bihar post-elections promising solutions. AIADMK’s Kovai Sathyan highlighted DMK’s flip-flop, recalling their vote-seeking pandering to migrants in Hindi during Erode bypolls.
This episode reveals deep tensions over migration and identity in India’s federal structure. With elections looming, such rhetoric risks fracturing the social fabric that defines the world’s largest democracy. Leaders owe it to citizens to foster inclusion over division.
