Minister seeks action against DMK MP over controversial remark

Patna: BJP leader and minister Dilip Jaiswal on Friday sought legal action against DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran for allegedly using offensive language against north Indian girls. A complaint was filed against Maran in a Muzaffarpur court.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan 22.The complaint accuses Maran of using divisive language, creating regional discord and insulting people from north India.Speaking at a college event in Chennai on Jan 14, Maran had said that girls in Tamil Nadu were encouraged to pursue education, while those in north India were told to stay at home, work in kitchens and bear children. Assembly elections are due in Tamil Nadu later this year.Reacting sharply, Jaiswal said the Centre should set up special “rehabilitation centres” for people who had no control over their language and spread regional hatred.The Bihar minister said such leaders should be identified, arrested and kept in rehabilitation centres for at least three months. He argued that only when their language and conduct improved would the country move in the right direction. “Maintaining linguistic decorum in society is the responsibility of every public representative,” he said.

Citing the example of Maharashtra, where the BJP-led alliance won municipal elections on Friday, Jaiswal said the consequences of promoting regionalism were evident. “The people of the country will not accept such individuals and political parties that work to divide society. What happened in Maharashtra will happen wherever regionalism is promoted,” he said.