'North Indians clean table, sell pani-puri': DMK minister sparks row
What's the story
A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after the state's Minister for Agriculture, MRK Panneerselvam, made controversial remarks against North Indians. Speaking at a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) meeting in Chengalpattu, he said North Indians come to Tamil Nadu for low-paying jobs like cleaning tables. "People from the North are coming here to clean tables, engage in construction works, sell pani puri. Because he learned only Hindi and had no job opportunity there, he has come here," he said.
Party response
BJP expresses discontent on X
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed these comments as derogatory and part of a larger pattern of discrimination against migrants by the DMK. In a post on X, it said, "At a party event in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, DMK agriculture minister Shri MRK Panneer 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 citizen is inferior."
Twitter Post
TN BJP shares video
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
Political silence
'Deafening silence' from INDI leaders
The BJP also took a dig at leaders of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDI) for their silence on the issue. "Now a direct question to the INDI alliance: if you claim to stand for unity, human dignity, and social justice, why this deafening silence? Do Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav endorse this hatred?" they asked. The party also demanded an apology from Panneerselvam for his remarks.
Public apology
Tamil Nadu BJP chief demands public apology
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran also condemned Panneerselvam's remarks, calling them "inciting hatred." He demanded a public apology from the minister and slammed the DMK for spreading hate against North Indians. Nagenthran asked if Congress and Left parties, which are part of the DMK alliance, support what he called divisive politics. The controversy comes ahead of Tamil Nadu's Assembly elections due in April-May this year.