Tamil Nadu Minister's Remarks on North Indian Migrants Ignite Language and Political Debate

Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam sparked controversy by stating that North Indian migrants, having learned only Hindi, take up low-paying jobs like cleaning tables and selling pani puri in Tamil Nadu, contrasting this with the state's two-language policy that includes English, which he said enables locals to secure global opportunities. The remarks drew criticism from opposition parties and the BJP, which accused the DMK of fostering divisions. DMK leaders defended the minister, emphasizing dignity in all legal work and framing the comments as support for Tamil Nadu's language policy amid ongoing election debates.