Chennai, Jan. 14 -- BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy strongly condemned DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran over his remarks comparing women's empowerment in Tamil Nadu with northern states, saying the statement was offensive and showed a lack of "common sense".

Thirupathy demanded that Maran apologise to the people of India, particularly Hindi-speaking communities.

Speaking to ANI, Thirupathy said, "I don't think Dayanidhi Maran has any common sense. So this is the problem. I strongly condemn Dayanidhi Maran. He has to apologise to the people of India, particularly the Hindi-speaking people, whom he says are uneducated and uncivilised."

His remarks follow Dayanidhi Maran's comments at an event in which he highlighted welfare measures undertaken by ...