India, Jan. 14 -- DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran on Tuesday sparked a political and social debate after making remarks comparing the status of women in northern states with that in Tamil Nadu, while addressing students at the Quaid-E-Millath Government College for Women in Chennai.

Speaking at the event, Maran claimed that girls in several northern states are often discouraged from pursuing education and careers and are instead expected to remain at home and do household work, whereas Tamil Nadu actively promotes women's education and empowerment. "Our girl students should be proud. In North Indian states, they ask girl children not to go for jobs and to stay inside the house and do housework, but here we want our girls to study," he said.

Mara...