Dayanidhi Maran's 'North Indian women asked to stay home, bear children' remark draws BJP ire

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran.

• DMK MP Maran's remarks on North Indian women spark BJP demand for apology
• BJP accuses Maran of making derogatory comments about Hindi-speaking states
• Maran praised Tamil Nadu's female literacy and criticized North Indian norms

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A massive political row was triggered as DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's compared North Indian and Tamil Nadu women, saying that girls in parts of North India are often "expected to remain at home, do kitchen work and bear children" while Tamil women are asked to study.

The remarks did not sit well with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It demanded an unconditional apology from Maran over his remarks on the status of girls in northern India, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about Hindi-speaking states and their people.

Reacting to Maran’s comments, the BJP said the DMK MP must apologise to the people of India, particularly those from northern states, whom he allegedly portrayed as “backward, uneducated and uncivilised", according to a report by News18.

What did the DMK MP say?

Addressing students at Quaid-E-Millath Government College for Women, Maran said, "Our girls ought to be confident and proud with a laptop, whether you attend an interview or pursue postgraduation. That confidence is in Tamil Nadu where we ask girls to study. What do they say in the North? Girls? Don't go to work, be at home, be in the kitchen, bear a child, that's your job."

"No, this is Tamil Nadu, a Dravidian state, the land of Kalaignar (former Chief Minister late M Karunanidhi), Anna (former Chief Minister CN Annadurai, and (Chief Minister) MK Stalin. Here, your progress is Tamil Nadu's progress. That's why global companies come to Chennai because everyone here is educated, not just in Tamil, but in English as well. They lead. The government plays a key role in women's progress. We will always get your love and support," Maran, the brother of billionaire Kalanithi Maran, said.

The DMK MP said Tamil Nadu is the best state in India and MK Stalin is the country's best Chief Minister.

Official data from the 2011 Census shows that Tamil Nadu’s female literacy rate stands at around 73.44 per cent, higher than several northern states such as Uttar Pradesh (57.18 per cent), Rajasthan (52.12 per cent) and Haryana (65.94 per cent), though states like Himachal Pradesh report a higher rate at 75.93 per cent, according to a report by News18.

BJP slams Maran

The remarks have drawn a sharp response from the BJP. Narayanan Thirupathy, BJP spokesperson in Tamil Nadu, said, "Once again, Dayanidhi Maran has abused North Indian people. I feel very bad about how these people are allowed to do this, although this is regular from DMK. I don't think Dayanidhi Maran has common sense."

BJP leader Anila Singh said Maran's remarks are "unfortunate". "He has forgotten that he lives in Bharat and Bharat worships Shakti. If he thinks that Shakti can be divided into North, South, East and West, he doesn't understand our culture. I want to ask him about what women in the party he has allied with, about Sonia Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra or our President Droupadi Murmu. This divisive politics is not going to work," she said, NDTV reported.

“He has to apologise to the people of India, particularly the Hindi-speaking people, whom he says are uneducated and uncivilised," the BJP said.