A fresh political controversy has broken out in Tamil Nadu after the DMK minister MRK Panneerselvam made remarks describing North Indians as ‘table cleaners and pani puri sellers’.
At a party event in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, DMK Agriculture Minister MRK Panneer mocked North Indian migrants as “table cleaners and pani puri sellers, amid tall claims of inclusive progressive Dravidian Model by the DMK, BJP slams hate speech@Sukanya_says @nimumurali pic.twitter.com/Vx111hYBqU
— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 5, 2026
The issue came to light after Nainar Nagenthran, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, accused DMK minister MRK Panneerselvam of making insulting comments about people from northern states.
According to Nagenthran, the minister said that North Indians come to Tamil Nadu only to sell panipuri, work at construction sites, or clean tables. The remarks were reportedly made during a meeting in Maduranthakam in the Chengalpattu district.
Reacting strongly, the BJP leader said such comments spread hatred between communities and demanded that the minister issue an immediate public apology. He accused the DMK of repeatedly targeting migrant communities and creating divisions between North and South India for political benefit, especially with Assembly elections approaching.
Nagenthran also invoked Tamil Nadu’s long-standing values of equality and unity, saying the state has always believed in the idea that all people are one family.
He questioned whether DMK’s alliance partners, including the Congress and Left parties, support what he called divisive politics. As of now, there has been no public response from the DMK or Panneerselvam on the matter.
DMK leaders’ past remarks on North Indians
This is not the first time senior DMK leaders have faced backlash over comments on North Indians.
Earlier, party organisational secretary RS Bharathi had said that North Indians sell panipuri in Tamil Nadu and compared RN Ravi to a migrant worker from Bihar. His remarks came amid tensions between the DMK government and the Governor over his deviation from the prepared Assembly speech.
Those comments, along with the latest controversy, have once again put the DMK on the defensive, with the opposition accusing it of repeatedly making disrespectful remarks about North Indians and migrant workers.
