Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam on Wednesday sparked a political row after remarks linking migrant workers from North India to menial jobs while defending the state’s two-language policy, prompting criticism from opposition leaders and parties across the country.
Speaking at a public event, Panneerselvam said people from northern states who “have learnt only Hindi” face limited job opportunities in Tamil Nadu and often end up in low-paying work, unlike students from the state who benefit from learning Tamil and English.
“Those from the north are coming to Tamil Nadu to clean tables… they are coming here to work as construction labourers, pani puri sellers, as they have only learnt Hindi,” the minister said. By contrast, he added, “our children have gone abroad… as we follow a two-language policy and learned English well. They are going abroad and getting opportunities to earn in crores… in USA, London.”
The remarks triggered sharp reactions, with opposition leaders calling them insensitive and divisive. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said Tamil Nadu’s economy depends heavily on migrant labour from other states and described the comments as “irresponsible”.
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Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad condemned the statement as an insult to North Indians, while JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha said people from northern states have contributed significantly to economic growth across the country.
Amid the backlash, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) sought to contain the damage. Party spokesperson Dr Syed Hafeezullah said there is “dignity in every legal work” and stressed that the party is not opposed to Hindi speakers or the jobs they undertake.
Defending the state’s policy, Hafeezullah said, “The two-language policy has helped Tamil Nadu and its people. English has given people development and global opportunities. Without this priority for English, people in Hindi-speaking states have not been able to develop in education.”
DMK Lok Sabha MP TR Baalu said the minister had been misquoted and that no derogatory intent was directed at North Indians, while reiterating Tamil Nadu’s long-standing opposition to what it describes as “Hindi imposition”.
The controversy has revived the language debate ahead of the Assembly election, with Tamil Nadu continuing to oppose the Centre’s three-language formula under the National Education Policy and maintaining its two-language system of Tamil and English in government schools.
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