In a fervent diatribe at the launch of the BJP’s Parivartan Yatra in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah vociferously denounced the Opposition bloc INDIA, asserting their ostensible “hatred for Hinduism” and characterizing it as an “assault on our cultural heritage.” The Home Minister contended that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s commentary on Sanatana Dharma was a calculated ploy of the INDIA bloc, rooted in “vote bank politics” and “appeasement” tactics.
This acerbic rhetoric arrives amidst a burgeoning controversy triggered by Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Udhayanidhi, addressing a writers’ conference in Chennai, disparagingly likened Sanatana Dharma to maladies such as dengue and malaria, alleging its incompatibility with notions of social justice. The BJP, reacting vociferously, characterized these remarks as an implicit call for genocide, raising questions about the ideological consensus within the INDIA bloc.
In response to the mounting criticism, Mr. Stalin elucidated his perspective, asserting that his critique of Sanatana Dharma was anchored in the conviction that it perpetuated caste-based divisions. Karti Chidambaram, a prominent Congress leader, concurred with Udhayanidhi’s stance, branding Sanatana Dharma as a “code for a Caste Hierarchical Society,” denouncing casteism as India’s enduring scourge.
Amit Shah also seized the opportunity to revisit Rahul Gandhi’s contentious 2010 assertion, wherein he controversially equated certain Hindu organizations with the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. This, Mr. Shah asserted, implied a conflation of Hindu organizations with “Hindu terror.”
In a protracted harangue, Shah extolled the enduring sway of Sanatana Dharma in the hearts of the populace, vouchsafing that it would endure regardless of political vicissitudes. He additionally accused the Congress of obstructing the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a project slated for completion in January.
Detailing the scope of the yatra launched on this occasion, Mr. Shah revealed that it would traverse an expansive 2,500 kilometers, encompassing 52 Assembly constituencies, and convening 156 small meetings and 54 large gatherings. With palpable confidence, he prophesied that the fate of the Ashok Gehlot government would be decisively sealed by the culmination of this yatra.
Shah did not shy away from berating the Gehlot administration, alleging deep-seated corruption and a failure to safeguard women, citing a disturbing statistic of 19 daily reports of sexual harassment within the state.
This fiery discourse encapsulated the fervor and tenor of the political milieu as the nation hurtled towards impending state elections, with the BJP aiming to supplant the incumbent Congress.
