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“North Indians Come Here To Clean Tables, Sell Panipuri, Do Construction Jobs,” Says DMK Min MRK Panneerselvam

By
The Commune
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With only months remaining for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, a fresh political controversy has erupted after Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam made contentious remarks about migrant workers from northern states, reigniting the long-running debate over language policy and north–south political narratives.

Speaking at a public event, Panneerselvam contrasted employment patterns of North Indian migrants with Tamil youth, linking the issue to the state’s two-language policy and its opposition to the three-language formula advocated by the Centre.

He said people from the north, “having learnt only Hindi”, had limited job opportunities in Tamil Nadu and ended up in menial work, while Tamilians benefitted from the state’s two-language policy, learnt English and secured jobs abroad.

He said, “People from North India come here to clean tables. Why do they come here? Since they only know Hindi, they lack job opportunities there. They come here as construction workers, table cleaners, pani puri sellers.”

He further added, “But 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.”

DMK members have frequently made use of the ‘panipuri seller’ jibe against North Indian migrant workers. Here are a few instances:

In February 2025, DMK MP A Raja made a similar comment.

Speaking at an event in Coimbatore, Raja went on the offensive and made derogatory remarks about Hindi speakers. He said, “The several thousand crores that are due for us (TN) has not yet come. If we demand, they tell us to study Hindi and only then would we get it. We oppose the Union government that demands that we in Tamil Nadu study Hindi in order to receive the funds. It is alright if you do not give us our funds, we will not give up on our state’s culture and language. We will continue with the two-language policy only. There is only one Chief Minister who has the audacity to say so and it is none other than our CM. They say if we learn Hindi, we will get jobs. But the Hindi speakers who have come here are only doing construction labour jobs or in fields. Earlier they were only selling panipuri. Now they are working in farms.”

He further proudly stated, “Children from TN who studied English and Tamil are studying in America, England, Australia. So why should we study Hindi? The right to ask that question has been given to us by our Chief Minister.”

DMK’s MSME Minister, TM Anbarasan in March 2025, made contentious remarks at a DMK event, stating that Hindi speakers in his household are engaged in cattle herding. His comments were seen as disparaging towards migrant laborers who earn their livelihood through hard work and perseverance.

He said, “Where are the ones who studied Hindi? Where are they? those who studied Hindi are rearing cows at my home. I’m not joking, It’s true. They are selling Panipuri, mason, carpenters. If we study Hindi we also have to go to North India and sell Panipuri.” 

DMK Organizational Secretary RS Bharathi sparked a controversy by saying that North Indians sell panipuri in Tamil Nadu and the Governor is also like them. He also compared the Governor to a migrant worker from Bihar and said that he would not have left without being beaten had Jayalalitha been alive.

He said, “I had earlier stated that those who sell Soan papdi and Panipuri don`t know the pride of Tamil Nadu. I said this in a meeting. I came to know that many have come from Bihar and I think the Governor (RN Ravi) has similarly come by train,”. 

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of Bharthiar University in Coimbatore on 13 May 2022, Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy said that it is not necessary to learn Hindi as speakers of that language can be found selling only Pani Pooris.

“In Tamil Nadu, there are two languages – English and Tamil. While English is an international language, Tamil is a local language. We were told that learning Hindi would fetch us jobs, did we get (jobs)? You go and see in our state, in Coimbatore, who sells pani puris? They are Hindi speakers,”, the DMK Minister said.

This is not the first time that Ponmudy took to ridicule Hindi speakers as ‘Pani Poori Sellers’.

“Many say that if you study Hindi, you will get a job. But, many are coming to work in Chennai from northern states. A few are selling pani puri here.”, Minister Ponmudy said while addressing members of the DMK Students Wing on 30 April 2022.

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