DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar has sparked a controversy after he made a statement in Lok Sabha saying that the people of the country should think that the power of the BJP is only winning elections mainly in the Hindi heartland states which they generally refer to as ‘Gaumutra’ states. The BJP has hit out at the DMK lawmaker saying that this will not be tolerated.
Speaking on recently concluded Assembly election results in five states during the winter session of the Parliament, DNV Senthilkumar said, “…The people of this country should think that the power of this BJP is only winning elections mainly in the heartland states of Hindi, what we generally call the ‘Gaumutra’ states…”
The comments come in the backdrop of some referring to the recent assembly election results as a ‘North-South divide’ after the BJP trounced the Congress in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and the Congress won in Telangana.
However, facing backlash after his comments, the DMK leader said, “I made some statement inside the House. At the time Home Minister & BJP members were there at that time. I have used this before in my Parliament speeches. It was not a controversial statement. If it touches somebody I will try to avoid using it next time. I will use some other words to mention that where the BJP is strong in getting their votes.”
During the elections, the row over some DMK leaders’ remarks against Sanatan Dharma had been latched on by the BJP to target the Congress.
Facing backlash after his comments, the DMK leader said, “I made some statement inside the House. At the time Home Minister & BJP members were there at that time. I have used this before in my Parliament speeches. It was not a controversial statement. If it touches somebody I will try to avoid using it next time. I will use some other words to mention that where the BJP is strong in getting their votes.”
Earlier this year, Congress had wrested Karnataka from the BJP, while other southern states are ruled by non-BJP parties including Tamil Nadu where Congress ally DMK is in power.
Speaking in Lok Sabha, Senthilkumar said, “You (BJP) cannot come to South India. You see all the results of what happens in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka… we are very strong over there.”
He went on to say, “We will not be surprised if you have an option of converting all these states into Union territories so that you can come into indirect power because you can never dream of setting foot over there and taking control of all the southern states.”
