Tamil Nadu minister stirs row, says pani puri sellers speak hindi

Tamil Nadu higher education minister K Ponmudy later clarified that his comments on pani puri sellers did not amount to ‘profiling’ Coimbatore/Chennai: Tamil Nadu higher education minister K Ponmudy on Friday asserted that the state government will continue with the two-language formula as its policy, and decried any attempts of alleged Hindi imposition and questioned claims that learning the language will fetch jobs. He, however, later clarified his comments on pani puri sellers did not amount to ‘profiling.’ His comments came at the 37th convocation of Bharathiar University in Coimbatore, presided over by state Governor R N Ravi, also the varsity Chancellor, where the minister reiterated the ruling DMK’s stand against ‘imposition’ of Hindi, a claim which Ravi sought to dismiss by saying “there is no question of imposition of Hindi or any other language on anyone.” Ponmudy said he used the platform to highlight Tamil Nadu’s sentiments over the language issue as the Governor would convey them to the Centre. Asked if his comments on pani puri sellers amounted to ‘profiling,’ the senoir DMK leader said “not like that.” “Most of them are working in pani puri shops,” he said. However, another user claimed the minister was “misinterpreted,” saying Ponmudy didn’t say “all Hindi speakers are pani puri sellers” but all those involved in it were Hindi speakers.