Leaders from all parties took a hard stance against this.
It also placed the DMK and the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) grouping in a precarious position.
Shehzad Poonawalla, the spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), chastised the leaders of the opposition alliance from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for not denouncing Maran’s remarks.
Why is this story important?
Major opposition to Maran’s remarks was expressed, and the Congress—a significant constituent of INDIA—also denounced it.
That did, however, provide the BJP with more ammunition to damage India’s chances in the next Lok Sabha elections by characterizing the opposition alliance as “anti-Hindi.”
A controversy was also started in September by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin of the ruling DMK, who was accused of equating Sanatana Dharma with “dengue” and “malaria.”
The Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son asserted that Sanatana Dharma was opposed to justice and equality.
What was it that Maran said?
Maran is purportedly heard in Tamil in the widely circulated video stating that Tamil Nadu residents’ proficiency in English helps them land corporate jobs.
In Tamil Nadu, people from UP and Bihar who have only learned Hindi engage in lowly jobs like construction and toilet cleaning.
Giriraj Singh, a BJP MP, then charged that the INDIA was promoting the notion of a north-south divide.
He attacked Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for their silence.
BJP officials respond angrily to Maran’s comments
Ravi Shankar Prasad, the MP for the BJP in Patna, responded to Maran’s remarks by demanding that DMK leaders cease demeaning the people of Bihar.
He blamed the bad circumstances in the state under INDIA bloc member Kumar for the exodus of Bihar citizens to Tamil Nadu.
In addition, Poonawalla charged that the leaders of the opposition coalition were trying to “divide and rule” by not taking action against Maran and encouraging divisiveness along caste, linguistic, and religious lines.
Disagree with what Maran said: CM Tejashwi Yadav of Bihar
Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister of Bihar and leader of the RJD, an ally of INDIA, also denounced Maran’s remarks.
The DMK is an advocate of social justice. It is unacceptable if a leader of that party has made any remarks concerning the people of Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. We disagree with it,” he declared.
“Workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are in high demand throughout the nation… We denounce any such comment that has been made,” Yadav continued.
The BJP draws attention to previous divisive remarks made by Indian leaders.
Poonawalla also referenced earlier incidents of divisive statements made by leaders of the INDIA group.
In addition to Udayanidhi’s criticism of Sanatana Dharma, he brought up the controversial statement made by DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar during the Parliament Winter Session about Hindi states in the heartland.
Congressmen Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also chastised by Poonawalla for their prior remarks.
It was their intention, he claimed, to “divide and rule” the nation and “insult Sanatana Dharma.”