New Delhi/ Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday come down heavily on DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for his remarks that Sanatana Dharma was against the idea of social justice and must be “eradicated”.
“Few things cannot be opposed, that should be abolished only. We can’t oppose Dengue, Mosquitoes, Malaria, or Corona, we have to eradicate this that’s how we have to eradicate Sanatana. Rather opposing Sanatana it should be eradicated. The name Sanatana is from Sanskrit. It is against Social Justice and equality,” the Tamil Nadu Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development had while addressing a conference organised in Chennai by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association on the theme of ‘eradication of Sanatana’.
The comments had then triggered massive backlash on social media with many calling for a case to be filed against him.
Later, responding to a post on X (formally Twitter) by BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, Udhayanidhi, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, clarified that he never called for the genocide of people who are following Sanatan Dharma and added that he was ready to face any legal challenge.
I never called for the genocide of people who are following Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality.
I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke… https://t.co/Q31uVNdZVb
— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) September 2, 2023
SCATHING RETORT TO UDHAYANIDHI’S ‘SANATAN’ REMARK
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
“The reality of some people in Tamil Nadu has now come out…Just a few days ago, we organised Kashi Tamil Sangamam and Lord Vishwanath is commemorated in every village in Tamil Nadu…’Sanatana’ is eternal, nothing is going to happen with these political remarks…”
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar
“Udayanidhi Stalin is a classic example of a spoiled brat, a person who has not done one day’s honest work in his life, talking about something that is so important and of faith. This nature of INDIA-UPA, whether it is Rahul Gandhi of Congress, Udayanidhi Stalin of the DMK, Akhilesh Yadav of the SP, or Mamata Banerjee’s nephew in West Bengal. All dynastic families constantly insult the faith so that they can appease the minority vote bank that they depend on.”
“…He is commenting on ‘Sanatana Dharma’, Hinduism without any worry of any response. Because he believes that his money, wealth and dynastic position put him in a situation where he can insult thousands of Indians and people from Tamil Nadu. The reality is that our country for 65 years before Narendra Modi became prime minister, has been exploited by few parasitic dynastic families… It should be our national mission that this country’s politics get rid of such dynasts who only exploit and enrich themselves and don’t care for anybody. They keep insulting the faith of crores of Hindus in our country.”
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai
“…The word ‘Sanatana Dharma’ was there even before the Christian religion or Islamic religion came. ‘Sanatana Dharma’ means eternal, timeless dharma. It has been there for a long long time…What Udhayanidhi spoke yesterday should be condemned by the 142 crore people of the country because hatred for a particular religion came out yesterday. He was reading the speech from a text, which was consciously prepared. The eradication of a particular culture is called genocide… Who is Udhayanidhi Stalin to abolish ‘Sanatana Dharma’?…”
He also accused Udhayanidhi Stalin and Chief Minister MK Stalin of echoing the ideas of Christian missionaries.
BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla
“…This is nothing less than a genocidal call and it has been supported by Karti Chidambaram of the Congress party… The question is that, Is this ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan or is this Nafrat ke bhaijaan’?…This is the long pattern of ‘Sanatana Virodh’…”
Senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vijay Shankar Tiwari
“Such people should get out of their colonial mindset…’Sanatana’ means one which is eternal…’Sanatana’ has grown continuously and is growing more.”
Hindu Mahasabha president Swami Chakrapani
“Sanatana Dharma’ has existed for centuries and will live on in the hearts and minds of the followers. The leaders in the INDIA bloc are not just fighting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but against the Sanatana Dharma itself. Their objective is to finish off our Sanatana Dharma. We never speak against his (Udhayanidhi’s) political ideology or beliefs. We don’t comment on Christianity or Islam. So, why are they targeting ‘Hindu Sanatana’?”
CONGRESS DISTANCES ITSELF FROM THE SANATAN RANT
Seeking to steer the Congress away from the statement, party’s Maharashtra chief Nana Patole said the partner in the DMK-led ruling coalition in Tamil Nadu doesn’t believe in hurting any religious sentiments. “Congress’ stand is clear, we do not want to comment on any religion or to hurt anyone’s sentiments…”
Congress leader Acharya Pramod, however, said, “There is a competition among leaders to abuse Hindus. For 1000 years there have been efforts to erase ‘Sanatan dharma’. No one could erase it…”
Congress leader Rashid Alvi, on the other hand, blamed BJP for politicising religion. “This country is known to respect all religions. Our Constitution is secular because people from various religions stay in our country so that the country can remain united, but in the last 9 years, BJP has politicised religion and this is the reason why anyone comes up and says anything about religion. The person who said this is wrong but the leaders of BJP are responsible for politicising religion.”
Slamming Udhayanidhi for his remark, author Anand Ranganathan said Sanatan Dharma is an ‘idea’ and “ideas can never be eradicated. “Sanatan dharma is a thought, an idea at once certain and questioning, imploring action and inertia, using science and spirituality, in life and beyond it. Sanatan Dharma is our greatest idea. And ideas can never be eradicated. Aurangzeb tried and failed. Who are you Udhaystalin?” he said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Delhi police has filed a complaint against Udhayanidhi under sections 120B,153A, 295, and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and IT Act for the “provocative, inciting, and defamatory statement against Sanatan Dharm” on the basis of a complaint filed by Supreme Court Advocate and Social Activist Vineet Jindal.
(With Inputs from ANI)
