DMK MP Senthilkumar Expresses Regret, Withdraws 'Controversial' Statement After Massive Backlash

DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar has expressed regret and withdrawn his statement in Lok Sabha which he used to refer to Hindi heartland states.

A day after his statement led to a massive row, DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar on Wednesday withdrew his comment on Hindi heartland states and expressed regret over the same in Lok Sabha. He said that if his remark has hurt the sentiments of members of the house and sections of the people, he would withdraw it. He also asked the Speaker to expunge the same.

"The statement made by me yesterday inadvertently, if it had hurt the sentiments of the Members and sections of the people, I would like to withdraw it. I request the words to be expunged...I regret it," he said. 

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expunged his remarks earlier in the day which he had used to describe Hindi heartland states. Senthilkumar has already issued an apology on X, formerly Twitter, and said: "Commenting on the results of the five recent state assembly elections, I have used a word in a inappropriate way. Not using that term with any intent, I apologize for sending the wrong meaning across."

Union Minister Giriraj Singh took a jibe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin over Senthilkumar's statement. he asked them to stop "mocking" Sanatan and warned that if they don't, they will be finished.

"...I would like to tell both Rahul Gandhi and Stalin father-son duo (MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin) that 'Ganga' and 'Gau' are the identity of Sanatan in India. 'Gaumata' is the identity of Sanatan in India. Stop mocking and attempting to finish Sanatan...otherwise you yourself will be finished," Singh said in a reference to a remark against 'Sanatan Dharma' by Stalin's son Udhayanidhi Stalin.

BJP MP Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said the DMK has forgotten the saffron party was in power in Karnataka. "Most number of MPs in Karnataka are from BJP. We have three MPs from Telangana, 8 MLAs have been elected. They should not try to divide India. I hope Sonia Gandhi will give a clarification on this matter," she added.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore condemned the DMK MP's remarks and said what the alliance partner was speaking about cannot be attached to Congress. "We stand for India and respect all religions. It is a planned conspiracy by BJP to stop Parliament from functioning and divert from the real issues by doing this," he added.

PM Modi's Cryptic Post On 'North-South' Divide Issue

The comment of the DMK MP was criticised by many and was regarded as an attempt to create a north-south divide in the country after he referred to the Hindi heartland states using in a 'controversial' manner. PM Narendra Modi reshared a video and called out against the opposition's 'divisive agenda' and warned of more such defeats like the one they faced in the recently concluded assembly election in five states.

"May they be happy with their arrogance, lies, pessimism and ignorance. But...Beware of their divisive agenda. An old habit of 70 years can't go away so easily. Also, such is the wisdom of the people that they have to be prepared for many more meltdowns ahead," PM Modi tweeted.