BJP attacks INDIA bloc as row escalates over DMK MP Maran’s mocking remarks against UP and Bihar migrant workers

In a video that went viral, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran noted that migrant workers from UP and Bihar end up doing menial jobs like construction work and “cleaning toilets and roads for us” in Tamil Nadu.

New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday slammed the opposition INDIA bloc over DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran’s alleged mocking remarks against migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, in which he had reportedly said that Hindi speakers from these states usually do menial jobs like construction work and “cleaning toilets and weighing for us” in Tamil Nadu.

“Hindi-speaking people who migrate to Tamil Nadu usually do construction work and clean roads and toilets for us,” the DMK leader said on Saturday while addressing a public meeting in Tamil Nadu, adding further fuel to the North’s angry Southern debate that started. after the BJP won the recently held assembly elections in the three Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

#DMK MP #DayanidhiMaran says that individuals out #Bihar And #UPWARDSwho only learn Hindi, migrate to TN, engage in construction work and perform tasks like cleaning roads and 🚽 TOILETS🚽

This is depicted as a result of learning #Hindi. #30000கோடி_எங்கடா pic.twitter.com/9a2AzaIqeN

– Aryabhata | 🕉️ (@Aryabhata99) December 23, 2023

In a sharp response to Maran’s comments, BJP said the Hindi-speaking states will teach the opposition alliance a lesson in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In the video clip, Maran reportedly said that migrant workers from UP and Bihar, who had learned “only Hindi”, are building houses, cleaning roads and toilets in Tamil Nadu after learning Tamil. “This is the scenario when Hindi is learned.”

‘Bihar situation created by DMK ally’

Reacting to Maran’s comments, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that workers from Bihar are migrating to Tamil Nadu for work “because of the situations created by their (DMK) ally Nitish Kumar in Bihar”.

“They should stop insulting people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in this way,” Prasad said.

“But if anyone does any work, will you insult him like this?” asked the Patna Sahib MP, accusing the DMK leaders of trying to sow division in the country with their objectionable remarks against “Sanatan, Bihar’s values ​​and culture and now labour.”

“This India is one, anyone can go anywhere to work,” he added.

‘Completely reprehensible’

BJP national spokesperson and former Union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain called the DMK MP’s comments “totally condemnable” and wondered why INDIA block parties and their leaders are allegedly “looking down” on the people of Bihar and U.P.

“This is absolutely reprehensible. It must be strongly condemned,” the BJP leader said and asked, “Why do the INDI Alliance leaders look down on the people of Bihar-UP so much and insult them? Why are people of JD-U, RJD and Congress silent on this matter?”

They earlier insulted ‘Bihar DNA’ but the opposition parties remained silent, accused Hussain in an apparent reference to a comment by Congress leader and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

“People of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will give a befitting reply to the people of INDI Alliance and teach them a lesson,” he added.

‘INDI alliance approves DMK comments’

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said such offensive comments being made “constantly” by the senior leaders of the DMK show that it is acceptable to “INDI Alliance and it is part of their (poll) strategy”.

“This is no coincidence, it is a well thought out experiment. Congress also endorses it. The Congress which has been conducting its politics from North India, especially Uttar Pradesh, is today abusing these states,” Poonawalla said.

“This is the reality of the INDI Alliance,” the BJP leader added.

‘Reconciliation policy’

Union Minister Nityanand Rai lashed out at the DMK over Maran’s comments, saying this is their “appeasement policy” for voting.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has elevated the dignity of our brothers and sisters involved in Swachhata Abhiyan (cleanliness mission), and you are insulting (them). This is appeasement policy… For this you (DMK leader) will have to apologize to the country,” Rai told reporters.

He also challenged all other voters of the opposition bloc INDIA to oppose and condemn Maran’s comments on Hindi-speaking people of North India.

“Dayanidhi Maran should hear this: It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharat and no one can create a divide between North Bharat and South Bharat. ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ is in the making here under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Everyone has respect in this country, including those who clean toilets and roads,” Rai added.

Tejashwi condemned Maran’s comments

Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, whose party, the RJD, is part of the INDIA bloc like the DMK, condemned the alliance MP’s comments and said that the DMK led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, like the RJD, was a party that believed in social justice and it was unbecoming of a leader of such a party to make such a comment.

“We consider DMK as a party that shares our ideal of social justice. The leaders should avoid saying things that are against the ideal,” said Yadav, who is known to share personal comparisons with Stalin.

The North-South debate

A debate has been raging between North and South ever since Congress’s victory in Telangana and BJP’s capture of Hindi heartland states in the recently held State Assembly polls, with some leaders making mocking remarks against Hindi speakers and called the North Indian states ‘Gaumutra’. (cow urine) states and claims that after the recently held elections, a “clear line has been drawn” between North and South India.

Earlier this month, after the election results were announced, DMK leader DNV Senthilkumar S had sparked a controversy by calling the Hindi heartland ‘Gaumutra (cow urine) states’. The DMK MP later apologized after the ruling BJP accused him of “dividing the country” into north and south.

Recently, the rift crept even within the INDIA bloc when Bihar Prime Minister Nitish Kumar asked DMK leader TR Baalu ​​to provide an English translation of his speech at an opposition alliance meeting.

“We call our country Hindustan and Hindi is our national language. We should know the language,” said Nitish Kumar, while RJD MP Manoj Jha offered to translate Baalu’s speech.

(With PTI inputs)