- 3 months ago
A major political controversy has erupted following comments by DMK leaders TRB Rajaa and TKS Elangovan comparing women in Tamil Nadu to those in North India.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today. I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal.
00:06We've got lots lined up for you over the next 60 minutes. Here's a glimpse of what to expect.
00:10Our top focus is on the North versus South debate that's been reignited in narrative that we've seen previously also particularly peddled by the DMK.
00:20It's back in focus in Tamil Nadu.
00:22This time, courtesy DMK Minister DRB Raja's comments, essentially suggesting that women are way better off in the South, way better off in Tamil Nadu than in the North.
00:33It's led to other DMK leaders also speaking out, justifying the statement made by DRB Raja and then questioning how exactly women live in North India.
00:44We'll get you all of those statements and put the focus again on their entire narrative of North versus South.
00:50I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal. Here are the headlines.
00:52Activist Sonam Vangchuk arrested under NSA, MHA had earlier cancelled FCRA license of his NGO, citing violations.
01:06Government also suspects that he made provocative statements which led to violence in Ladakh.
01:10Stone pelting reported in U.P.'s Barely over I Love Mohamed posters and slogans.
01:22Violence reported after Friday prayers.
01:25Cops resort to Lati charge situation brought under control.
01:28More skeletons stumble out in Molester Baba case.
01:38Monster Godman sexually abused girl in 2016 too.
01:42Delhi High Court rejects Bail Klee in another financial fraud case.
01:46MiG-21 retires after 62 years in service.
01:55Farewell to Legend of Skies, MiG-21.
01:57Trump slaps 100% tariff for On Pharma entering U.S. from October 1st.
02:08There's no tariff if manufactured in America.
02:11And Park cricketer Harris-Rof informs match referee that the 6-0 sign that he showed up during the India-Pakistan match meant nothing and had no reference to India.
02:28Park players Harris-Rof and Sahih Jada Farhan could be fined 50-100% of their match fee by the ICC details at 6.30pm this evening.
02:37You've had two DMK nethas in the last 24 hours sparking controversy by comparing societal attitudes towards women in Tamil Nadu to that of North India.
03:00And it's led to a huge showdown not just in Tamil Nadu but across, sparking a debate, yes,
03:05but also political controversy as the DMK now is facing fire even from their own allies within the India bloc.
03:12Many of the northern political parties taking offence to what was said by DMK Minister TRB Raja as well as DMK's TKS Elungovan.
03:21But what exactly did they say while drawing that comparison of how things are in Tamil Nadu versus in northern states?
03:28We get you those details first in our report.
03:30The North versus South narrative is back, with another DMK netha mocking North Indians.
03:39DMK Minister TRB Raja's comparison of women in North India versus women in Tamil Nadu has stirred a hornet's nest and here's why.
03:47The minister's remarks saying North Indian women have no identity of their own led to angry reactions from the opposition in Tamil Nadu.
04:13Words from DMK functionaries, highly unfortunate, I strongly condemn for linking the religious practice with the development.
04:23Let them not practice their narrow politics, their old bank politics on the womenhood.
04:31Somebody who can't differentiate between Manu Smriti and address it as Manu Dharma shows a level of knowledge they acquire over a period of time to play this divisive politics.
04:41But the DMK has backed Raja's comments, saying he's merely reflected what happens in the North.
04:48It is the practice of the religion, that is what I say.
04:52Here women were given empowerment, they were given freedom, they were treated on par with men.
05:00There it is not like that.
05:02There women are still, as per religious practices, they are only housewives.
05:10Many of the women are housewives.
05:12It's not the first time DMK leaders have mocked North Indian women.
05:16Previously, veteran leader and minister Durai Murugan said this about women from the North.
05:21The South Superior to North narrative has been repeatedly raked up by DMK leaders, particularly during election season.
05:43But has the comparison gone too far now?
05:46Bureau Report, India Today.
06:13And the Samajwadi Party has highlighted that there are many women from North India who've achieved several feats, who've made India proud, who've made the country proud.
06:22So the Samajwadi Party, an ally of the DMK, considering they're all part of the India bloc, has completely disagreed with what the Dravidar Munitra Karagam leaders have said.
06:31And then on the other hand, the BJP, of course, has also lashed out, saying that again, this indicates that the DMK is not nationalistic in its top.
06:41And that's why it's targeting North Indians.
06:42The DMK is not nationalistic in its top.
07:12The DMK is an Oswalap and an Oswalap.
07:14The comment of the
07:32It's the same thing in this debate, in two religions,
07:36the same thing says it is the same.
07:41Joining us now on this broadcast is Rohan Gupta,
07:44national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata party.
07:46We also have Harish Mohamed Ibrahim, political analyst.
07:50And we reached out of course to the DMK.
07:53The DMK has refused to be a part of this particular discussion.
07:56But I'd like to begin with you, Mohamed Ibrahim,
07:58what you make on the comments that have been made by the two DMK leaders here
08:02and essentially resurrecting that whole North versus South narrative.
08:06Do you agree with what they said, first of all?
08:09No, first of all, we don't have to see it in the North versus South perspective,
08:13which was Mr. Industrial Minister, Mr. Dr. Tia B. Raja said.
08:16As a proud minister who swung in from 2021,
08:19who took India's average of 6.4% GDP,
08:24the Tamil Nadu's average is almost 11.19% GDP.
08:27And now, getting into all kinds of industrial performance,
08:31only the women empowerment, which is of 40% all across India,
08:35the Tamil Nadu's contribution is low, 40%.
08:38So addressing to a gathering, he is referring to the women empowerment
08:41in a large scale of industries, which are organized industries in Tamil Nadu,
08:46which is perfectly fine.
08:48Which is perfectly fine and it's not a good, the numbers you're telling me.
08:51It's not a good.
08:51Let me finish.
08:52But by comparison.
08:54Of course, it has to be compared.
08:56When the Indian average of GDP is 6.4% and when an industrial minister
09:00who is taking a state to 11.19%,
09:04doesn't he have any authority to get to the people of other states
09:07to make sure to follow his footsteps?
09:10No, not other states.
09:11It is your authority.
09:11Northern states.
09:12Not other states.
09:13Northern states.
09:14If the media has to infer in that way, then you please take it forward.
09:20The industrial minister, the commerce minister, if India is going to be on an aggressive state
09:24on industrial forefront, then our industry minister, Mr. Piyush Goyal,
09:28should call upon our Tamil Nadu industrial minister,
09:32stating that how you brought the women empowerment to such a large scale of 40%.
09:36Let me just highlight here, let me highlight here that there's no interpretation by the
09:40media.
09:41The exact word is in North India.
09:43Where's the room for interpretation here?
09:45Of course, of course, one single southern state is making its own GDP,
09:51which is a double time the average of India.
09:53And the entire nation, it is below 40% of women empowerment.
09:58Where in our Tamil Nadu alone, it is 40% women empowerment across organized sectors,
10:04the women participation is 40%.
10:06So, automatically in industrial minister with a proud, what do you say,
10:11with a proud showcasing of his effort, it is trivial.
10:15But only the media and the BJP is taking in another context and making sure it is a
10:20context. Ibrahim, I don't, you know, this constant media bashing,
10:24many think it's cool to do it, but for no reason, there's no point of, you know,
10:28constantly lashing out in the media. I've given you the exact comment of what he said.
10:32Come on. Rohan Gupta, your opening comments.
10:34Nothing wrong, nothing wrong about it.
10:36This is the reflection of mindset of Indi Garbadan leaders.
10:42This is not the first time. See, you can definitely talk about your achievements,
10:46your state. That doesn't mean that you have right to demean the women of North India.
10:50Why are you dividing the country? Obviously, when Rahul Gandhi said that it's a union
10:54of nations, so this is about the mindset. It is not about the mistake. And very fact,
10:58they are not present in this debate. It clearly shows that they know that what they have done
11:02wrong. But this is not the mistake, according to me. This is the mindset of DMK and all other
11:07Indi Garbadan. They have always demand something to do with North India.
11:10Okay, Rohan Gupta, but answer, answer what Ibrahim has said. He's saying, look,
11:14there's data to prove that Tamil Nadu's way ahead. And that's essentially the message that
11:18was sent across that this was a minister proud of what Tamil Nadu has achieved, highlighting
11:23that by drawing a comparison.
11:26Does that give them license to demean women of North India? You definitely draw comparison.
11:31You give the numbers. But why you have to say that this is what it is? No, that is not
11:34right. You cannot do that. In order to prove your superiority, you are dividing the country.
11:39You are creating a North-South divide. This is a very dangerous politics. You are calling
11:43India union of states. What are you trying to tell? India is one. There can be one state
11:49where a particular achievement is done. There can be addressed it. There is a different
11:52achievement. But you cannot divide. This was your defensive mindset.
11:56Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Ibrahim, your response to what Rohan Gupta has said. Please don't resort
12:00to media bashing again, Ibrahim. No, no, no. It is not media bashing. It is
12:03only against the BJP and the ruling Hindi heartland states which has to take the lessons from
12:07the industrial minister of Tamil Nadu, how he brought from 6.4 the Indian GDP to 11.19%
12:25a single state and how he made sure to bring down the entire women empowerment into its workforce.
12:30Almost 40% of the overall Indian women organized sector, women empowerment, work force is only
12:37from Tamil Nadu. So you have to make sure all the ruling.
12:39I like Ibrahim, how you say BJP ruled states in the North. So there is a clear demarcation
12:45in the North Indian states also based on who is ruling it, right? For lessons to learn.
12:49No, no, no, no. It is for entire India to learn it.
12:52Okay, for the entire country. Ibrahim, okay. So there is on one hand what Mr. Raja has said.
12:57And then on the other, what TKS Alam Govan has said, where he says that because of religious
13:01issues, there are women in North India who are always housewives. Again, is that something
13:06you agree with?
13:07No, if you want to get into that angle, you give me a data, where does the women empowerment
13:14across, excluding all the South states or excluding Tamil Nadu, you give me a data where the women
13:19liberation happens across…
13:20I can give you, I can give you, I can give you a list…
13:23No, you can't. You can't.
13:24If that is a data, it is a fake data.
13:26Ibrahim, you are asking me a question.
13:27No, it is a fake data.
13:29I can give you a list. I can give, I can give you a list of women achievers from North
13:34Indian states and who achieved on their own. Let me finish, please.
13:38No, you are taking, you are taking entirely a different perspective.
13:39At no point did we say that their identity was based on the man in their life. Okay?
13:44These were women achievers who carved their own identity. Their identity wasn't linked
13:48to the man in their life, first. And secondly, I can also give you a list of women achievers
13:53who irrespective of religion went out and did what they had to.
13:56Madam, you are taking it in an entirely different perspective. An industrial minister who is
14:01speaking on his own industrial aspect, how when women empowerment brought his state into
14:06another level with a GDP of 6.4 Indian average or his state is 11.19%, assuming his office
14:14on 2021, within three years he made a footstep on his own industrial aspect. This is what he
14:19referring to. If the media and the BJP is going to take it in a different way and…
14:23Stop this, Ibrahim, again. You know this whole constantly saying media this and that, I am
14:28asking you questions. I am asking you questions. You are trying to insinuate on your own way.
14:31You are trying to insinuate. I am asking you a question. Are you suggesting that asking
14:35you a question is insinuating something, getting you to speak and giving you a response is
14:39insinuating something? No, you ask the right question. You ask the right question.
14:41If I am asking the right question, if I am asking the right question, there is no
14:45conversation. Rohan Gupta. Rohan Gupta, go ahead. Right now, we do not
14:51have any DMK representative in this debate. And the way he is lamely, he is targeted, you
14:56are trying to protect DMK. It is really, really shameful. See, it is about the mindset. Again,
15:00I am repeating my point. It is not only about women. They have questioned DNA of Bihar.
15:04They have told that the Bihar people are the toilet cleaners. And the same people, the
15:09same DMK people are made star pacharaks in Bihar. Would you feel that people of Bihar or North
15:14India, they will toilet this? No, you have to change your mindset. And I am asking question
15:18to Congress party, why they are silent today? Why RJD is silent today? You have to ensure
15:23that this kind of statement made by even by your own party or your allies, you have to
15:27question them. Otherwise, people of Bihar, they are not going to leave you. The basic point
15:31here is whenever anybody makes statement, they have to be responsible. You cannot divide country
15:36into North and South. You definitely have right to tell something about your achievement or
15:41something you have done better. But that doesn't give you license to disrespect women
15:44of North. That is completely dangerous for a country like India, where different states
15:49have different ideology, different mindset and different governments. So you should refrain
15:53from that. And whenever you make that mistake, rather than trying to protect that, come out
15:57openly and tell that person to have protest.
15:58We leave it at that. We leave it to our viewers to decide whether it's a fair comparison, as
16:03Mohamed Ibrahim says, or whether it's an attempt to divide, as Rohan Gupta says. But thank you
16:07very much, gentlemen, for your time and for joining us here on India Today. We've seen this North-South
16:12debate happen previously. We leave it to you to decide whether this time around, with the comments
16:17that have been made by DMK Netas, it's fair to question exactly how women are, how they are looked
16:22at in North Indian states versus in Tamil Nadu. Let's cut across to more breaking news coming in.
16:28And the Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udainiti Stalin has, in fact, taken a dig at TVK chief
16:40Vijay, who's now being referred to as a weekend politician because of the fact that he's holding
16:46rallies either on a Saturday or a Sunday. Udainiti Stalin, mocking the same, has said that I'm not
16:52someone who'll be out only on weekends, saying that we are 24 by 7 politicians. I'm available
16:58all seven days of the week when compared to others who only work on certain days of the
17:03week. A clear jive at TVK chief Vijay Daya and his weekend rallies. Listen up to Udainiti Stalin, sir.
17:10I am very very good at the end of the week. I am very good at the end of the week. I am very good at the end of the week.
17:20I have a great day to go and see if I am very good at the end of the week. I do not know how much I am.
17:24All right, let's move on to news from Karnataka,
17:42where you had the High Court issuing an interim order
17:45regarding the planned caste census, the caste survey in the state.
17:51Now, the High Court bench, in fact,
17:52clarified that participation in the survey is not mandatory.
17:55It's voluntary, and also the government has been directed
17:58to make a public announcement stating
18:00that providing information is voluntary.
18:02So every citizen knows their rights,
18:04even as the census is underway.
18:05The question, however, is if it's voluntary,
18:08how do you really get the real data from the ground now in Karnataka?
18:11Because many households can say,
18:13look, we're not willing to give out the details of our caste
18:16or sub-caste for that matter.
18:22The caste survey storm refuses to settle down in Karnataka.
18:28A day after the state High Court allowed the survey to continue in Karnataka,
18:32Chief Minister Sidra Maiya met district officials on the issue.
18:36Deputy CMD K. Shiv Kumar and other ministers
18:39were also part of the key meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sidra Maiya.
18:44The High Court allowed the survey, but with stiff riders,
18:47saying that participation was not mandatory,
18:49no one can be forced to reveal information,
18:52and that all data must be stored confidentially.
18:56The survey panel has also been ordered to file an affidavit
18:58on safeguarding data.
19:01Even as the High Court laid down conditions,
19:04the Congress government welcomed the order
19:06and insisted the survey was never mandatory in the first place.
19:10The High Court has refused to interfere in the caste survey.
19:16It has given a go-ahead for the government to do the caste survey.
19:19We are not forcing any coercing any people to give the information.
19:22Whoever interested, they can give this information.
19:25So caste survey will go unhindered.
19:27People who are not listening to the direction,
19:33they will naturally get attracted by service rules,
19:39and appropriate action will be initiated if they violate the direction.
19:45Congress OBC MLAs, ministers and leaders have rallied behind the Chief Minister,
19:50reaffirming their support for the exercise.
19:53However, a few Vokal Liga and Lingayat leaders still want the survey postponed.
19:58A lot of people wanted a very, very scientific survey that we have done,
20:04and obviously some people which belong to the major communities are trying to resist this.
20:12So all of us are together in this to see that this has become a successful survey.
20:17Chief Minister Sidramayi has said that the survey will be intensified going further.
20:22The Archbishop of Bengaluru has called upon Christians to participate in the survey honestly and responsibly.
20:49We were told that it is not a caste survey.
20:53We want to repeat also.
20:55We will not mix up the issues.
20:57Since this is not a caste survey,
20:59we are not very, a little sad, but we will cooperate with the government.
21:03The BJP, however, has also welcomed the Karnataka High Court verdict.
21:07The court has not stayed the economic survey, but they advised the backward commission to maintain silence,
21:21not to reveal any information collected by the people of Karnataka to anybody.
21:31So with some advice, they are allowed to have a survey.
21:37So it is a welcome move.
21:39While the court has cleared the decks, the caste survey remains a political and social minefield for the Karnataka government.
21:46The chief minister today met all the deputy commissioners of the districts and instructed them to speed in the process of caste survey
21:54and ensure that the teachers go door to door and collect data.
21:57While the Karnataka High Court has said that the caste survey and giving out data is not mandatory, but voluntarily.
22:04The government has welcomed this move while the OBC, MLS and minister met yesterday to strengthen the caste survey
22:10while there is resistance from the dominant Lingayat and Vokalika community.
22:14Nagarjun Dwarkanath for India Today.
22:19That's all we have time for in this edition of Super 6. Thanks very much for tuning in.
Be the first to comment