The ongoing ‘North vs South’ debate in India has been further fueled by a controversial remark made by a DMK MP in Parliament. This debate has been intensifying since the BJP’s victories in the heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, as well as the Congress’ success in Telangana.
Critics of the BJP argue that their ideology resonates more in the Hindi heartland, while the southern part of the country rejects the party. The BJP, on the other hand, dismisses this debate as divisive and claims that it stems from their rivals’ inability to accept their electoral setbacks.
The Congress’ recent wins in Karnataka and Telangana have solidified their position in the South, while Kerala and Tamil Nadu are held by the Left and the DMK, respectively. However, Andhra Pradesh, ruled by the YSR Congress party, has backed the BJP on national issues.
The BJP’s victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh have given them complete control over the heartland states. In addition to these three states, the party also holds Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, all of which are politically significant. The ‘North vs South’ argument also takes into account cultural and linguistic differences, as well as higher GDP, literacy rates, and lower population in the southern states. Supporters of the argument also highlight the migration of people from the northern states to the south for employment opportunities.
The debate reached its flashpoint when trends on counting day showed the BJP’s victories in the heartland states and the Congress’ triumph in Telangana. Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty posted on social media about the “thickening and clarifying” of the North-South boundary line, while Congress MP Karti Chidambaram simply wrote “the South.” Critics of the BJP pointed to the higher literacy rates in the South and suggested that the party’s policies and ideologies only resonate in the northern part of the country. Some even predicted that the 2024 elections would be a battle between the North and South.
In response to these statements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the debate with a post on social media, using emojis that garnered significant attention. He criticized those who displayed arrogance, lies, pessimism, and ignorance, and warned about their divisive agenda. The Prime Minister emphasized that an old habit of 70 years cannot be easily eradicated, and that people should be prepared for more meltdowns ahead.
The ‘North vs South’ debate reached Parliament when DMK MP DNV Senthil Kumar referred to the Hindi heartland states as “gaumutra states.” This remark drew strong criticism from the BJP, DMK chief MK Stalin, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, and Congress. BJP leaders accused Kumar of hate speech and warned that voters will wipe out the opposition bloc, of which DMK is a part, in the upcoming general elections. Union Minister Anurag Thakur condemned the INDIA bloc, accusing them of insulting Hinduism, Hindi, and Sanatan Dharma, and supporting divisive ideas.
In response to the backlash, the DMK MP apologized for his inappropriate use of words while commenting on the recent state assembly election results. He clarified that he did not intend any harm and apologized for any misunderstanding caused. The DMK stated that MK Stalin reprimanded Kumar for his remarks and emphasized the party’s commitment to a dignified approach in public statements.
