Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin, has finally addressed the contentious ‘Sanatana Dharma’ remarks made by his son, Udayanidhi Stalin, who serves as a minister in the state government. Stalin asserted that it is “unjust for the Prime Minister to comment without full knowledge of Udhayanidhi’s statements.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin, at 45 years of age and holding a ministerial position in Tamil Nadu, triggered a significant controversy by asserting that Sanatana Dharma is incompatible with the principles of social justice and should be “eradicated.”
Rejecting the criticism surrounding his son’s remarks as a “false narrative,” the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister contended that “pro-BJP forces are incapable of tolerating his opposition to oppressive ideologies and have disseminated a fabricated narrative, falsely accusing Udhayanidhi of advocating for the elimination of individuals with Sanatana beliefs.”
Stalin pointed to the influence of social media in spreading these falsehoods, particularly in northern states, emphasizing that Udhayanidhi never employed the term ‘genocide’ in either Tamil or English.
Stalin also questioned the Uttar Pradesh government’s response to a seer from the state offering a bounty on his son’s head. He expressed dismay that, instead of addressing this threat, cases were filed against Udhayanidhi. Furthermore, he raised concerns about the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, commenting on the matter during a council of ministers’ meeting without verifying the facts.
Stalin criticized the Central government’s “One Nation One Election” proposal, labeling it a “political maneuver” aimed at creating divisions within the opposition alliance. He argued that the BJP’s purported concerns about discriminatory practices within Sanatana Dharma were insincere.
In defense of his son, Stalin highlighted oppressive ideologies propagated under the guise of ‘Sanatana’ and clarified that Udhayanidhi’s remarks were directed against such practices, not advocating genocide.
Udhayanidhi’s comments had drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders and religious figures, who accused him of making a “genocidal call.” The controversy has ignited discussions about the intersection of religion, politics, and social justice in India.
