Udhayanidhi Stalin clarifies his Sanatan Dharma remarks, says he opposes inequality and oppression, not religion or temple worship, after criticism from BJP and rivals
Udhayanidhi Stalin (File pic)
Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday issued a clarification over his remarks on Sanatan Dharma after criticism from BJP leaders and political opponents in Tamil Nadu.
Responding to the controversy, Udhayanidhi said his comments were aimed at opposing inequality and oppression, and not religion or faith.
“My statement on sanatana has been criticised. I’m not scared of that. But I want to make a clarification. If we say Sanatana should be abolished, it doesn’t mean no one should go to the temple,” he said.
“Not just temples but even society should be equal for all. We are not against anyone’s faith. We are against inequality and oppression,” he added.
The controversy began after Udhayanidhi, during his speech in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on May 12, said, “Sanatanam that divides people must certainly be eradicated.”
The issue escalated further after TVK MLA VMS Mustafa backed the remarks and said, “We also subscribe to the ideals of Periyar and Ambedkar. We too have entered the fray to abolish Sanatan.”
Amid the row, Tamil Nadu minister Aadhav Arjuna said in Chennai that “TVK is against caste system, inequality, but we respect every religion equally, we aren’t against Hindus, but against Hindutva.”
The statements triggered sharp reactions from Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai, who accused the DMK and TVK of targeting Hindu beliefs for political reasons.
“Days after DMK MLA Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin spoke about eradicating Sanathana Hindu Dharma on the floor of the legislative assembly, TVK MLA Thiru VMS Mustafa came in support of Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks. Not only is this very unfortunate but also it shows the level of hatred they harbour in their minds towards an eternal Dharma that helps us to lead a meaningful life,” Annamalai wrote on X.
He further alleged that the DMK and TVK were pursuing similar political agendas.
“DMK & TVK, in their very short history, have proven to the people that they are two sides of the same coin. DMK has forgotten what their constant attack on Sanathana Hindu Dharma has brought them to. TVK will also soon remember,” he said.
Annamalai also accused both parties of hiding their ideological stand during elections.
“If either DMK or TVK had the courage of conviction, they should have openly declared during their election campaigns that targeting Sanathana Hindu Dharma would be central to their politics. Instead, they hid behind secularism & theatrics, only to reveal their true intentions after seeking votes from the very people whose faith they now insult with arrogance and impunity,” he said
Tamil Nadu, India, India
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