New Delhi, March 13 -- Tamil Nadu minister Durai Murugan has stoked controversy after he said in a public address that North India has a tradition where a woman can have multiple husbands as he gave a reference of Draupadi - the main female protagonist of the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. He also threatened to "cut off" tongues of those insulting Tamil.

His statement has come amid a row between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government over implementation of three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP).

"In our culture, a man marries only one woman. However, in North India, a woman can have multiple husbands - sometimes five or even ten. Similarly, five men can marry one woman. This is their tradition. If one leave...