'North Indians know only Hindi, sell pani puri, clean tables': Tamil Nadu minister remark sparks language row
While addressing a public event, the Tamil Nadu Minister said that the people from the north "having learnt only Hindi" have limited job opportunities in the southern state and often end up with menial jobs.
Chennai: Just weeks before the Assembly election, Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam on Wednesday triggered a row with remarks about migrant workers from the northern states.
His comments has reignited the long-running state versus centre and two-versus-three language debate.
What did the Tamil Nadu minister say?
While addressing a public event, the Tamil Nadu Minister said that the people from the north "having learnt only Hindi" have limited job opportunities in the southern state and often end up with menial jobs, while people from the state, who benefit from the state's two-language policy, have secured jobs in abroad.
Panneerselvam said that "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 while highlighting the benefit of the state's two language policy, which focuses on Tamil and English, said that, "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."
What did other parties say?
After the remarks, the opposition leaders has critised Panneerselvam by saying that no job was inferior.
On Wednesday, the official X handle of Tamil Nadu unit of BJP said that "In today’s India, people from every state work everywhere - North, South, and across the world. No job is small. No citizen is inferior."
At a party event in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, DMK Agriculture Minister Shri @MRKPanneer mocked North Indian migrants as “table cleaners and pani puri sellers.” In today’s India, people from every state work everywhere - North, South, and across the world. No job is small. No… pic.twitter.com/ODs02RRJLA
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) February 4, 2026
Calling the remark "irresponsible", Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said," Tamil Nadu requires workforce from other states to come and make our economy tick. They are welcome to Tamil Nadu, and they are safe in the state. This is also testimony to Tamil Nadu. It shows the strength of the state's economy. These kinds of flippant comments made by people are irresponsible."
#WATCH | Delhi | On DMK leader MRK Panneerselvam's alleged statement targeting North Indians, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram says," Tamil Nadu requires workforce from other states to come and make our economy tick. They are welcome to Tamil Nadu, and they are safe in the state.… pic.twitter.com/qelPjYVnjp
— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2026
Describing the statement as an "insult to the nation" Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad said, "This is an insult to the nation. The country is made up of the North, East, West and all directions. People of different languages, different attire and different backgrounds live here. Despite this diversity, our nation is known as Bharat, and unity in diversity is its essence and identity."
Delhi: On DMK Minister MRK Panneerselvam’s remarks about North Indians, SP MP Awadhesh Prasad says, "This is an insult to the nation. The country is made up of the North, East, West and all directions. People of different languages, different attire and different backgrounds live… pic.twitter.com/0T8HpYCvmh
— IANS (@ians_india) February 5, 2026
Who came in defence?
The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Dr Syed Hafeezullah said that there is "dignity in every legal work... and we are not against it".
While reframing Panneerselvam's remarks as a defence of Tamil Nadu's two-language policy and its emphasis on English for global opportunities, he said that "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 also came in defence and said that his remarks were quoted wrongly.
"Panneerselvam is a responsible minister... he has been quoted wrongly (and) nothing has been said against north Indians," he said.
