‘Ready to face whatever cases they file against me’: Udhayanidhi Stalin amid row over ‘eradicate Sanatan Dharma’ remark

He hit out at the BJP for “spreading fake news” after a party spokesperson termed his remarks a “call for genocide.” He added that the ruling party was “scared” of the Opposition’s INDIA alliance and was trying to “divert” attention.

On Saturday, Udhayanidhi said Sanatan Dharma should be “eradicated”, alleging that it is against equality and social justice.

“Some things cannot be opposed, they should be eradicated. Mosquitoes, dengue fever, malaria, and Corona cannot be opposed. They should be eradicated. So should Sanatan [Dharma],” he said in his address to Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association in Chennai.

His comments sparked a row, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah lashing out at the INDIA bloc for “insulting this country’s culture, history and Sanatan Dharma”.

Vineet Jindal, who identifies as an advocate, has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police commissioner, Northwest deputy commissioner of police and cyber cell of Delhi Police, alleging that Udhayanidhi’s comments amounted to hate speech.

“Few are being childish saying I invited for genocide while others are saying that Dravidam should be abolished. Does that mean DMKians should be killed? When PM Modi says ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’, does that mean Congressmen should be killed? What is Sanatan? Sanatan means nothing should be changed and all are permanent. But the Dravida model calls for change and all should be equal,” Udhayanidhi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“The DMK’s policy is ‘one clan, one God’,” he added.

Udhayanidhi on Sunday also took to social media to clarify his comments. “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,” he posted on X.

“I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma. I am ready to present the extensive writings of Periyar and Ambedkar, who conducted in-depth research on Sanatan Dharma and its negative impact on society in any forum,” he said.

Udhayanidhi, in his post, added, “Let me reiterate the crucial aspect of my speech: I believe, like the spread of diseases like COVID-19, Dengue, and Malaria by mosquitoes, that Sanatan Dharma is responsible for many social evils. I am prepared to confront any challenges that come my way, whether in a court of law or the people’s court. Stop spreading fake news.”

What did Udhayanidhi say about Sanatan Dharma?

The Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Union Saturday organised an event in Chennai titled ‘Sanadhana Ozhippu Manadu’ (Sanatan Abolition Conclave).

Claiming that Sanatanam divided people’ caste’, Udhayanidhi said at the event that former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK leader late Karunanidhi gave a fitting rebuttal to it by forming a ‘Samathuva Puram’, where people of different castes live together in harmony.

“What did Sanatanam do to women? It prevented them from stepping out of the house, made them commit sati (self-immolation on their husband’s pyre), and shave their head and wear a white saree post their husband’s death. It also led to child marriages,” the DMK minister said, listing down some of the welfare schemes of the DMK government like free bus travel scheme, women’s right grant, incentives for college students for higher education, etc implying how in contrary, the Dravidam aims empower women by providing better access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities fostering their socio-economic development and gender equality.

He also added that “spreading fake news”, “inciting violence” is only Sanatanam.

“While we think of introducing schemes to benefit for our student’s education, fascists are coming up with schemes to stop them from achieving that because the principle of Sanatanam is that we shouldn’t study at all, and NEET is one fine example of that,” he alleged adding that conclaves like these are important and should be held frequently.

How did the BJP react to Udhayanidhi’s remarks?

This speech of Udhayanidhi drew the ire of the BJP, which coined it as ‘hate speech’ and urged the Supreme Court to take action against him in accordance with the law.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and several other senior leaders and spokespersons came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu minister and his party.

Shah, who was addressing a rally in poll-bound Rajasthan, said they (INDIA bloc) talk about Sanatan Dharma for vote bank politics.

Dubbing the INDIA bloc as ‘gahamandiya gathbandhan’, Shah said the ‘more they (INDIA alliance) about Sanatan dharma, the less they will be visible.’

“They say if Modi wins, Sanatan rule will come. Sanatan is ruling the hearts of the people. Modi has said the country will run on the basis of the constitution,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya took to X and posted a clip of Udhayanidhi’s speech from the event and alleged the Tamil Nadu Minister is calling for ‘genocide’ of 80 per cent population of the country who follow Sanatan Dharma and asked whether this was what agreed on the Opposition alliance meet held in Mumbai a couple of days ago.

Udhayanidhi Sunday thanked the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Union for giving him a platform to speak on Sanatan Dharm and said the entire country is speaking about it was something he had wished for.

The guests list for the Saturday event included K Veeramani of Dravidar Kazhagam), DMK ministers K Ponmudi, P K Sekar Babu, VCK MP Thol Thirumavalavan, leaders of CPI(M), chairman of State Minorities Commission Peter Alphonse and actress and activist Rohini, among others.

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