Sanatan Dharma remark: Stalin defends son, says BJP desperate to divide I.N.D.I.A

MK Stalin, CM, TN

Amid a raging row across the country over his cabinet colleague Udhayanidhi Stalin's alleged anti-Sanatan Dharma remarks, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday said his son had expressed certain comments about the "inhuman principles" preached in it and accused the BJP of being ‘desperate' to create division in the mega opposition bloc, the I.N.D.I.A alliance.

Pro-BJP forces, unable to tolerate Udhayanidhi's stance against oppressive principles, have spread a false narrative, alleging he called for the genocide of people with Sanatan thoughts, Stalin said in a statement and wondered why Prime Minister Narendra Modi would also join those targeting the TN minister.

Udhayanidhi spoke out against oppressive ideologies and called to eradicate the practices based on those ideologies. "Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed certain comments about inhuman principles preached by Sanatan. He expressed his views on Sanatan principles that discriminate against Scheduled Castes, tribals and women, with no intention to offend any religion or religious beliefs," he said.

"The Social Media mob nurtured by the BJP has widely circulated...falsehood in northern states. However, Minister Udhayanidhi never used the word ‘genocide' in either Tamil or English. Still, lies were spread claiming so," Stalin added.

"The I.N.D.I.A alliance, formed by parties opposed to the BJP, seems to have rattled the Prime Minister. He is proposing ‘One Nation One Election' out of fear. It is evident that the BJP is not genuinely concerned about the discriminatory practices in Sanatan but rather desperate to create divisions within the opposition alliance. It doesn't take a political genius to recognise this as a political gimmick," he added.

Cong says it does not agree

The Congress on Thursday said it did not agree with the remarks of DMK leaders Udhayanidhi Stalin and A Raja on Sanatan Dharma. The opposition party also asserted that every single member of the I.N.D.I.A alliance has immense respect for all faiths, communities and beliefs. DMK leader A Raja reportedly said Sanatan Dharma should be compared to diseases such as AIDS and leprosy that have a social stigma attached to them.

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Asked about comments by leaders of ally DMK, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "The Congress has always believed in ‘sarvadharma samabhav' wherein every religion, every faith has its space. No one can treat any particular faith as less than another faith." "Neither the Constitution allows this nor the Indian National Congress believes in any of these comments," Khera said during a press conference at the AICC headquarters.

BJP on Hinduphobia

The BJP on Thursday described Raja's remarks against Sanatan Dharma as "outrageous and vitriolic" and slammed opposition parties, saying Raja's comments reflect the INDIA bloc's "mental bankruptcy" and "deep-rooted Hinduphobia".

"Changing name does not conceal one's intent and character," Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dharmendra Pradhan wrote on X. Pradhan said, "Outrageous and vitriolic comments about Sanatan Dharma, this time by ... A Raja, reflect the mental bankruptcy and deep-rooted Hinduphobia that engulfs the I.N.D.I.A bloc."

Stoutly defending Sanatan Dharma, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai on Thursday dubbed the ruling DMK a casteist party that must be decimated. "If something needs eradication from Tamil Nadu, it is the DMK. D - Dengue, M - Malaria K - Kosu (mosquito). Going forward, we are sure that people will associate these deadly diseases with DMK," he said.

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