An old video of DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran in which he derogates Hindi speakers has been going viral on social media.
The DMK MP while addressing a public meeting had said that people who learned Hindi work as construction workers and wash toilets in Tamil Nadu, whereas Tamilians who don’t know Hindi hold high-level positions in the IT sector.
He said, “We asked you to study Tamil and English. You studied. Look at Sundar Pichai, he is now the CEO of Google. He would have been a construction worker if he had studied Hindi. Our children hold high-level positions in IT firms and earn a good living. Look at those who studied Hindi. They work as construction workers and clean toilets.”
4. DMK MP Dhayanidhi Maran has said in public meeting that peoples who learned Hindi are working in TN as construction workers, washing the toilets but Tamilians are working in IT sector at high posts.
There are many incidents where he spoke like this. 4/n pic.twitter.com/ExmUBTEHTw
— Soma Sundaram 🇮🇳 (@isomasundaram72) March 5, 2023
This other time, while speaking at a public meeting he had called north Indians and Hindi speaking people as ‘idiots’ who will vote for BJP.
DMK MP
.@Dayanidhi_Maran
calls North Indians as fools, will this come under hate speech….
pic.twitter.com/U2RjZigFlZ— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 (@HLKodo) March 5, 2023
The speech of Dayanidhi Maran slandering and derogating Hindi speakers has received widespread condemnation from different quarters.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, part of the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, condemned Maran’s statement. Yadav pointed out that while addressing social inequities is important, disparaging an entire population is unacceptable.
Tejashwi Yadav stated that, similar to his own party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the DMK led by Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin, also upholds the principles of social justice. He expressed that it was inappropriate for a leader of such a party to make the contentious remark.
“Had the DMK MP highlighted caste iniquities, had he pointed out that only people from some social groups took up such hazardous jobs, it would have made sense. But to speak disparagingly of the entire populace of Bihar and UP is reprehensible. We condemn it. We believe that people should be respectful towards those coming from other parts of the country.”, Tejashwi Yadav said.
Tejashwi Yadav further emphasized that leaders of the DMK ought to refrain from making statements that contradict the principle of social justice.
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's Statement, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav says, "Karunanidhi's party is the DMK. The DMK believes in social justice. If any leader of that party has said something about the people of UP and Bihar, then it is condemnable. We do… pic.twitter.com/qtEuDUOYcr
— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2023
Former Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, a prominent BJP figure from Bihar, challenged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regarding Maran’s statement. “The continuous disrespect towards Bihar’s people must end,” Prasad stated. He added that the residents of Bihar are compelled to migrate due to the state’s situation under Kumar’s governance, who is part of the INDI alliance.
The Mahagathbandan in Bihar, comprising of the RJD and JDU along with DMK are part of the I.N.D.I. Alliance. Earlier during a meeting of the alliance in Delhi, Bihar Chief Minister and JDU head Nitish Kumar lambasted at DMK MP TR Baalu who had requested for Hindi translation of his speech.
During Nitish Kumar’s address in Hindi, DMK MP TR Baalu reportedly requested Manoj Jha to ensure translation. The request, however, seemed to irk Nitish Kumar, who responded by saying, “We live in Hindustan, Hindi is our national language, and everyone should know it.”
The lack of protest or objection from the DMK in response to Nitish Kumar’s assertion raised eyebrows, leading to questions about the party’s stance on “Hindi imposition“.