Ponmudy issues clarification about his ‘Paani Puri’ remarks
Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy issued a clarification after making a controversial statement in the ongoing language debate claiming that Hindi speaking people are selling ‘Paani Puri’ in the state. He made a controversial statement while questioning the rationale behind the argument that learning Hindi could open more employment opportunities.
Claiming that those who speak Hindi are engaged in menial jobs here, the minister at a Convocation ceremony at Bharathiar University Ponmudy said, “If the argument that learning Hindi could open more employment opportunities was true then why are those speaking the Hindi language selling ‘Paani-Puri’ here?”
After much criticism, the minister issued a clarification and said, “Various persons from Tamil Nadu go and work in the Northern States. I said in this sense that various persons from the North come here and work because there is no work available in Northern states.”