Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said religion and politics are different things and one need not mix them.
Priyank Kharge, A Raja
A petition was filed before a Bihar court on Friday, 8 September, accusing DMK MP A Raja and Congress leader and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge of causing hurt to Hindu sentiments.
The petition was filed before the court of Muzaffarpur Chief Judicial Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Lal by resident and lawyer Sudhir Kumar Ojha, who had earlier this week filed a similar complaint against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who heads the DMK, and the latter’s son and minister Udayanidhi.
In the petition, Ojha, who remains in the news for his petitions against political bigwigs and other celebrities, has assailed the statements of Raja and Kharge, both of whom came out in support of Udayanidhi’s remarks about Sanatana Dharma, a term often used to denote the Hindu faith.
The petitioner has sought trial of Raja and Kharge, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The court has posted the matter for hearing on 16 September.
Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said religion and politics are different things and one need not mix them, his comment coming amid a political tussle over Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks about Sanatana Dharma.
Udhayanidhi, Tamil Nadu minister, had derided Sanatana Dharma for its alleged divisiveness and lack of equality and had called for its eradication on the lines of diseases like malaria, dengue and coronavirus.
Former Union minister A Raja, also of the DMK, added fuel to the fire by stating that Udhayanidhi was, in fact, using mild comparisons, adding that Sanatana Dharma should in fact be compared to HIV and leprosy.
Asked about the remark, Kharge said, “I have not come here to speak about anyone’s religion. I have come to participate in the programme (Bharose ka Sammelan) meant for the poor. Religion and politics are different things and there is no need to mix them. I don’t want to debate on it.”
Kharge was speaking to reporters after attending the Chhattisgarh government’s ‘Bharose ka Sammelan’ event in Thekwa in Rajnandgaon district in the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Chhattisgarh minister Rajesh Munat said Kharge should clarify if the Congress supported Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks on Sanatan Dharma.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Congress are part of the opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
(With PTI inputs)
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