Tamil Nadu: BJP President Annamalai Releases Videos Of Anti-Migrant Hate Rhetoric By DMK Leaders, Dares Government To Arrest Him

Challenging the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to arrest him, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai today released a short compilation of speeches delivered by Dravidian party functionaries targeting migrant workers during the past few months.

Responding to the case, the BJP leader tweeted, “I understand DMK has filed cases against me for exposing their 7-decade propaganda against North Indian brothers. So, here is the video of what they spoke about, which was mentioned in my press release yesterday. I challenge Fascist DMK to arrest me!”.

A Rajya Sabha MP and organising secretary of the DMK RS Bharati launched a disgusting diatribe against Governor RN Ravi. Bharati said that the north Indian gang of 'pani puri' sellers is trying to change the name of Tamil Nadu.

A senior DMK leader and state higher education minister K Ponmudy equated Hindi speakers with Pani Poori sellers.

The incendiary speeches delivered by activists of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), founded by actor-turned-politician Seeman and several other fringe outfits, have contributed to escalation in hate rhetoric.

With sharp rise in hate speeches directed against migrant workers, a sense of fear and panic has gripped a section among them.

While no official statistics are available on the number of so-called 'North Indians' in the state, Tamil Nadu attracts a considerable number of workers from the rest of India engaged in infrastructure projects, the hotel industry, real estate projects, small industrial units, private security guards and a plethora of skilled jobs including plumbing, carpentry, electricians etc.

Many entrepreneurs prefer migrant workers due to a combination of factors, including lower wages and the non-availability of locals for such jobs. Some even cite 'reliable work ethics' for preferring migrants.