BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy on Wednesday criticised DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran over his recent remarks comparing women’s empowerment in Tamil Nadu with that in northern states, calling the comments “offensive” and a sign of “lack of common sense.”
Speaking to ANI, Thirupathy demanded an apology from Maran, particularly to Hindi-speaking communities. "I don't think Dayanidhi Maran has any common sense. So this is the problem. I strongly condemn Dayanidhi Maran. He has to apologise to the people of India, particularly the Hindi-speaking people, whom he says are uneducated and uncivilised," he said.
The comments came after Maran, addressing an event in Chennai, highlighted welfare initiatives by the Tamil Nadu government, including the distribution of laptops to students.
“The laptops our government had distributed are used by the beneficiaries to study and give interviews. This is what we are proud of. This is the reason we in Tamil Nadu ask you to study,” Maran said.
He also contrasted Tamil Nadu with northern states, stating, “In northern India, women are told not to do jobs and are asked to stay inside the house, work in the kitchen and give birth to children. But Tamil Nadu is a Dravidian state, where importance is given to your upliftment.”
Responding to the controversy, DMK leader TKS Elangovan defended Maran’s remarks, stating that women’s education and empowerment depend on the party in power in each state. “It depends on the party which is ruling the state. Now Congress is empowering women. There is no doubt that wherever Congress is ruling, they are doing good for the education of women,” he said.
Elangovan added that Tamil Nadu has consistently focused on advancing women’s rights. “Here in Tamil Nadu, we fought for women and empowered them. We gave them education. We gave them employment. We have also reserved seats in government jobs. We have been working for the advancement of women's rights from the beginning. In the north, there is nobody to fight for the women. That's all,” he said.