A political controversy has erupted after senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Member of Parliament Dayanidhi Maran made strong comments on education policies and language use in different parts of the country, particularly targeting what he described as a Hindi-only approach in some northern states.
Speaking at a public event, Maran criticised states where, according to him, students are discouraged from learning English and are pushed to focus only on Hindi. He claimed such policies limit opportunities for young people and force them to migrate to southern states in search of work. His remarks included a controversial statement suggesting that young women educated in the south are treated as “slaves” in the north, which immediately drew sharp reactions from political opponents.
Maran argued that discouraging English education harms employment prospects and keeps people away from better-paying jobs. He said students are often told that learning English will “ruin” them, and as a result, they are left with fewer options in an increasingly global job market. According to him, this approach has contributed to unemployment in some regions. 
The DMK leader contrasted this with Tamil Nadu’s education system, which he described as inclusive and forward-looking. He said the state follows the Dravidian model of education, which promotes learning for both boys and girls without discrimination. Maran claimed this model has helped improve literacy rates and increased women’s participation in the workforce.
He further stated that Tamil Nadu’s strong focus on education has played a key role in its economic growth. “Today, top global companies are coming to Tamil Nadu because of educated people,” Maran said, adding that language should be a bridge to opportunities, not a barrier.
According to him, restricting education to one language alone limits a student’s future and reduces exposure to global knowledge. He warned that such restrictions slow down growth and make it harder for young people to compete for jobs in a fast-changing economy.
However, Maran’s remarks quickly sparked outrage from the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP strongly criticised his comments, calling them insulting and divisive. Party leaders accused him of disrespecting Hindi-speaking communities and demanded a public apology.
BJP leader Thirupathy Narayanan condemned Maran’s statement. He said Maran lacked “common sense” and claimed that the remarks unfairly portrayed Hindi speakers as uneducated and uncivilised. Narayanan said such statements damage national unity and deepen regional divides.
