Tamil Nadu Minister Sparks Controversy Over North Indian Migrants, Criticizes Three-Language Policy

Chennai: The language debate in Tamil Nadu has intensified once again after Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam made controversial remarks about North Indian migrants in the state. Speaking on Wednesday, the minister claimed that people from North India have “only learned Hindi” and come to Tamil Nadu primarily for low-paying jobs such as table cleaning and selling street food like pani puri.

Remarks on North Indian Migrants

Panneerselvam said that North Indians have limited job opportunities in South India and typically perform menial work, while Tamilians benefit from the state’s two-language policy, enabling them to pursue global career opportunities in countries like the US and the UK. He emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s focus on English, alongside Tamil, has allowed the state’s youth to access high-paying jobs abroad, whereas Hindi-speaking migrants are restricted to unskilled labor.

Criticism of the Central Three-Language Policy

The comments reignited the long-standing “Hindi vs. non-Hindi” debate. DMK spokesperson Dr. Syed Hafeezullah responded by stating that every job, when done properly, has dignity, and the party opposes any discrimination. He clarified that Tamil Nadu does not oppose Hindi-speaking people or their work, framing Panneerselvam’s remarks as an indirect critique of the central government’s three-language policy.

DMK spokespersons also highlighted that the two-language policy in Tamil Nadu—Tamil and English—has contributed significantly to the state’s development. English proficiency, they noted, has given Tamilians access to global opportunities, which they argue is less accessible to students from Hindi-speaking states due to insufficient emphasis on English education.

In a defense of the minister, DMK MP T.R. Balu stated that Panneerselvam’s comments were misrepresented and that he did not intend to make any derogatory statements against North Indians.