The row began after Tamil Nadu minister Udhayandhi Stalin remarked that Sanatan Dharma is against equality and social justice, and that it should be eradicated.
With Udhayanidhi Stalin’s “eradicate Sanatan Dharma” remark sparking a political firestorm, top BJP leaders have stepped up the pressure on the INDIA alliance demanding an apology from the DMK leader, while the Congress seemed divided over the statement.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh hit out at the Opposition alliance INDIA’s silence over Udhayanidhi’s comments on Sanatan Dharma, warning that the nation will not forgive them unless they apologise. He asked why Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot are silent on the issue.
“DMK has attacked Sanatan Dharma and Congress is quiet on it. I want to ask (Rajasthan Chief Minister) Ashok Gehlot why he does not speak, why Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, (Congress president Mallikarjun) Kharge do not say what is their thinking on Sanatan Dharma,” Singh asked. “Sanatana Dharma cannot be seen as limited to prayers. Sanatana Dharma gives the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and it considers the whole world as one family. 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.”
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Meanwhile, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje demanded that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin should immediately sack his son Udhayanidhi over his allegation that Sanatan Dharma is against social justice and it should be eradicated. Addressing reporters, she said: “Our country is connected to religion and temples. He (Udhayanidhi) holds a responsible position and his father is Chief Minister… What is he speaking? What does he think?”
While Union Minister Anurag Thakur accused the opposition INDIA alliance of stooping to any level to win in politics, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal asked the Congress if the INDIA bloc had met in Mumbai to finalise its agenda against Sanatan Dharma and how to finish it off across the country. “Is this your ‘mohabbat ki dukan‘ (shop to spread love),” he asked, in a dig at Congress leaders.
Meanwhile, the Congress party seemed divided over Udhayanidhi’s statement. Speaking at a party briefing at the AICC headquarters, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said: “Our view is clear. ‘Sarva Dharma Samabhava’ (respect for all religions) is the Congress’ ideology. Every political party has the freedom to tell their views….We are respecting everybody’s beliefs…”
Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress Minister Priyank Kharge in Bengaluru said, “Any religion that does not treat people with equality is as good as a disease.”
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On the other hand, Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath told reporters that the remark is Udhayanidhi Stalin’s personal view and he does not agree with it.
The row began after the Tamil Nadu minister’s remarked that Sanatan Dharma is against equality and social justice, and that it should be eradicated. Udhayanidhi Stalin, 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 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.”
First published on: 04-09-2023 at 12:48 IST
