Sanatan Dharma row: Udhayanidhi Stalin remains defiant despite flak, says ‘will repeat again’

The Tamil Nadu minister had said that Sanatan Dharma is against equality and social justice, and that it should be eradicated.

DMK 's Udhayanidhi Stalin (Twitter)

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Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is at the centre of a row surrounding his remarks regarding the Sanatan Dharma, remained defiant and defended his comments, saying he would repeat it “again and again” as he only “condemned caste differences”.

“Day before yesterday, I spoke at a function about it (Sanatana Dharma). Whatever I said, I’ll repeat the same thing again and again… I included all the religions and not just Hindus… I spoke condemning caste differences, that’s all,” news agency ANI quoted the DMK leader as saying on Monday.

Stalin’s remark has spurred a political firestorm, with the BJP rallying for an apology, and urging other INDIA alliance members to speak out against the statement. “The DMK leader should be asked if he has a clarification regarding his statement. The INDIA alliance should apologise otherwise the nation won’t forgive,” said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The Tamil Nadu minister had said that Sanatan Dharma is against equality and social justice, and that it should be eradicated. Stalin, who is the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, also likened Sanatan Dharma to “coronavirus, malaria, and dengue fever” and said such things should not be opposed but eradicated.

On Sunday, he had said he was ready to face “whatever cases they (BJP) file” against him and hit out at the BJP for “spreading fake news” after a party spokesperson termed his remarks a “call for genocide.”

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