Recent comments by Udhayanidhi Stalin, a DMK minister and the son of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin, have caused a lot of controversy. In his statements, Udhayanidhi has strongly criticized something called “Sanatana Dharma” and refused to apologize. Here’s what’s been happening:
“Eradicate Sanatana Dharma” Remark: Udhayanidhi has been saying that we should get rid of Sanatana Dharma, not just disagree with it. This has upset many people.
Example of Discrimination: When asked for an example of how Sanatana Dharma is unfair, Udhayanidhi mentioned that President Droupadi Murmu, who is from an indigenous community, wasn’t invited to the opening of the new Parliament Building in Delhi. He suggested this was unfair.
Reference to Mahabharata: Udhayanidhi brought up a story from the Mahabharata about Dronacharya and Ekalavya. He said that the connection between teachers who ask for extreme sacrifices and the Dravidian movement is long-lasting and will continue.
FIR Against Udhayanidhi Stalin and Priyank Kharge: Udhayanidhi Stalin and Priyank Kharge (the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge) are facing a legal complaint for hurting religious feelings because of their controversial comments.
Comparing Sanatana Dharma to Diseases: In a previous speech, Udhayanidhi compared Sanatana Dharma to diseases like coronavirus, malaria, and dengue. He argued that it shouldn’t just be opposed but completely eliminated because it divides people based on caste and religion.
Response from Eminent Citizens: More than 260 important people, including former judges and government officials, wrote to the Chief Justice of India, asking him to take notice of Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments and calling them “hate speech.”
Political Reactions: The head of the Tamil Nadu Congress, KS Alagiri, defended Udhayanidhi Stalin and called him a “young Periyar.” This was a reference to EV Ramaswamy, who was an important figure in the Dravidian movement and opposed Sanatana Dharma. Alagiri suggested that Udhayanidhi has the right to express his views and accused the BJP of using the issue for political gain.
