- The BJP leaders sought action against DMK minister P K Sekar Babu
- Raja stokes another row by comparing ‘Sanatan Dharma’ to HIV, leprosy
- Union minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said that Raja’s comments reflect the INDIA bloc’s “mental bankruptcy” and “deep-rooted Hinduphobia”.
NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, SEPT 7
The BJP leaders approached Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi on Thursday seeking action against DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Sanatan Dharma row.
Here’s the copy of the letters submitted by senior leaders of @BJP4TamilNadu to our Hon Governor of TN, Thiru RN Ravi avl, today. pic.twitter.com/otHTOtzJQm
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) September 7, 2023
State BJP chief K Annamalai took to social media platform X to report about the meeting. He said the senior leaders of the party met T N governor R N Ravi to submit memorandums against the DMK Minister. They sought the Governor’s intervention in filing cases in line with the Supreme Court’s guidelines against Udhayanidhi Stalin for his alleged “hate speech” at the Sanatana Eradication conference. The leaders have also asked for the dismissal of Minister P K Sekar Babu for attending the conference, where Udhayanidhi made the remark, which they allege was “a violation of his oath to office.”
This comes a day after an FIR has been registered against Amit Malviya, in charge of BJP’s IT department, for “distorting Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare Minister Udhaynidhi Stalin’s remark on Sanatan Dharma.”
If something needs eradication from Tamil Nadu, it is the DMK.
D – Dengue
M – Malaria
K – KosuGoing forward, we are sure that people will associate these deadly diseases with DMK.
Here is my detailed rebuttal to TN CM Thiru @mkstalin avl’s press statement today. pic.twitter.com/sg6Pmp1nTv
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) September 7, 2023
According to local police, a case was registered against Malviya on Wednesday under IPC sections for deliberately misrepresenting Udhayanidhi’s remark to cause disharmony and create enmity among different sections of people.
You can’t defend the indefensible. Udhayanidhi Stalin asked for Sanatan Dharma to be eradicated. 80% of the population of Bharat follows Sanatan Dharma… How else does one interpret what he said?
History is witness to how Hitler deployed similar language against the Jews, and… https://t.co/XBvTK3Puwy pic.twitter.com/qErz8PPMv0
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) September 7, 2023
Malviya had posted on X that the DMK leader had called for “genocide” of 80 per cent population who follow Sanatan Dharma. The FIR was registered following a complaint, they said and did not elaborate.
Sanatan Dharma remark: ‘I will repeat it,’ says Udhayanidhi Stalin as row intensifies
On September 2, DMK leader and state minister Udhayanidhi, who also holds the sports portfolio alleged that Sanatan Dharma is against social justice and equality and it should hence be “eradicated.”
Raja stokes another row by comparing ‘Sanatan Dharma’ to HIV, leprosy
A day after FIR was lodged against Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, DMK leader A. Raja fuelled the controversy over ‘Sanatan Dharma’ by comparing it to HIV and leprosy.
While speaking at a protest meeting against Vishwakarma Yojana organised by Dravidar Kazhagam in Chennai on Thursday, Raja said that “there is neither a sense of disgust associated with malaria and dengue nor were they considered a social disgrace. What is looked upon with disgust was leprosy in the past and HIV in recent times…As far as we are concerned, it should be looked upon as a disease which is a social disgrace like HIV and leprosy,” Raja was quoted by Times of India.
Meanwhile, BJP said that Raja’s remarks was “outrageous and vitriolic”. Union minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said that Raja’s comments reflect the INDIA bloc’s “mental bankruptcy” and “deep-rooted Hinduphobia”.
He also said that Udhayanidhi Stalin was soft when he compared it to dengue and malaria.
VIDEO | “I am prepared to give answers for all cabinet ministers if the Prime Minister convenes the meeting and permits me,” says DMK leader @dmk_raja on row over Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks on 'Sanatan Dharma'. pic.twitter.com/8mGItesH1m
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 6, 2023
Earlier, Raja had said that he was ready to give answers to all cabinet ministers if the prime minister permits him.
After an FIR was registered, Priyanka Kharge on Thursday said that his statement did not intend to hurt the sentiments of any religion.
He also criticised BJP for twisting his statement. “My statement was not against any religion that discriminates between human beings is not a religion. I follow the Constitution. my religion is the Constitution. If they want to file an FIR against me or they want to arrest me, it is up to the individuals, I really don’t care,” Kharge was quoted by ANI.
“All I have said is that the Constitution is my religion…These people do not understand Kannada, Hindi or English. Let them file as many FIRs as they want, they are free to do so,” he said.
Let us resolve to work for the victory of the ideologies of Periyar, Anna, Kalaignar and Perasiriyar. Let Social Justice flourish forever. pic.twitter.com/Eyc9pBcdaL
— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) September 7, 2023
In the backdrop of the ‘Sanatana Dharma’ heating up, Udayanidhi Stalin released a statement saying that he will face all cases legally. He said that the BJP is using Sanatana to divert attention from Manipur and other major issues.
An FIR was lodged against Stalin and Kharge under Section 153 A (promoting enmity between different religious groups), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Speaking a seminar in Chennai last week, Udhayanidhi Satlin compared the Sanatana Dharma with diseases like dengue and malaria and had said it should not be merely opposed but “eradicated”.
While, Priyank Kharge had said that any religion that does not promote equality is as good as a disease.
“Any religion that does not promote equality or does not ensure that you have the dignity of being human is not a religion, according to me. Any religion that does not give equal rights or treat you like humans is as good as a disease,” Kharge had said.
