DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday reiterated his remarks, calling for the “elimination” of Sanathanam or Sanatan Dharma. During a speech in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in the presence of newly appointed Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Udhayanidhi said: “Sanathanam which divides people must be eliminated.”
A clip of his remarks in Tamil quickly went viral, with people commenting on how the Tamil Nadu opposition leader repeated the claim in Vijay’s presence. Follow live updates on Tamil Nadu politics here.
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan reportedly responded to Udhayanidhi’s remarks and slammed them as a venomous rant. “These repeat criminals should keep in mind that the state emblem of Tamil Nadu has a temple gopuram and the people of Tamil Nadu will never forget or forgive such blatant offenses and insult to their faith and sentiments,” he said.
Kesavan also dragged Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in his attack on the DMK leader and said, “Udayanidhi Stalin is the Rahul Gandhi of Tamil Nadu, promoting divisive hate politics. Rahul Gandhi mocked the holy Singol and insulted and boycotted Pran Prathishta’s ceremony for Ram Mandir. Like Rahul Gandhi who was rejected in the last three Lok Sabha elections, Udayanidhi Stalin, despite being punished and expelled by the Tamil people, continues his rant.” Toxic.
The BJP leader was referring to Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the Ram Mandir inauguration in 2024, and his remarks on the controversy associated with Singul’s installation in the Lok Sabha chamber in the same year.
The Mega Storm Revisited
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s latest comments on Sanatana came almost three years after a similar statement he made sparked a huge political storm in India. He had said that Sanatana is against the idea of social justice and must be eliminated.
“There are few things that cannot be opposed, they should only be abolished. We cannot oppose dengue, mosquito, malaria or Corona. We have to eradicate this, this is how we have to eliminate Sanatana. Instead of opposing Sanatana, we should eliminate it,” he said, sparking a huge controversy.
Even amid the major row, Udhayanidhi remained defiant, arguing that he is only speaking against caste differences and will continue to repeat this remark “again and again”.
In the latest development, in January, the Madras High Court said Udhayanidhi’s comments amounted to “hate speech”.
Udhayanidhi-Vijay exchange in Tamil Nadu Assembly
A silent but warm exchange unfolded in the Tamil Nadu Assembly this morning, with Udhayanidhi Stalin recalling how Vijay, TVK legislator JC D Prabhakar and himself went to the same college.
“Me, CM Vijay and Speaker Prabhakar all went to the same college but DMK is the first batch in governance and we are ready to teach you,” he said in a lighter tone. Vijay was also seen smiling during the remarks.
Udhayanidhi’s DMK suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Vijay’s TVK in the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. While TVK won 108 seats in its debut, DMK managed to get only 59 seats.
