Protesters also raised slogans against leaders who made similar remarks supporting Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi.
Protest held in Delhi against Udhayanidhi's remark.
Scores of saffron-clab Hindu sadhus staged a protest against DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin over his comments on the Sanatana Dharma and burnt his effigies near Tamil Nadu Bhawan in New Delhi on Monday, 25 September.
The protesters also raised slogans against political leaders who also made similar remarks and issued statements supporting the Tamil Nadu minister and son of Chief Minister MK Stalin.
The protesters, under the banner of Delhi Sant Mahamandal, held placards denouncing Udhayanidhi Stalin and other leaders and marched from a temple in Sarojini Nagar towards Tamil Nadu Bhawan.
Police stopped them at Africa Avenue after which they torched effigies of Udhayanidhi and others.
The protesters said that heads of different political parties should restrain their leaders from issuing statements against Sanatana Dharma and demanded an apology from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin for his son’s actions.
President of Delhi Sant Mahamandal, Narayan Giri Maharaj, said it was surprising that state governments were silent over the issue.
“Even the Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the hate speech of politicians against Sanatana Dharma. The language used by politicians against Sanatana Dharma creates animosity among communities and strict action should be taken against such political leaders,” he said.
The Supreme Court on 22 September issued notices seeking responses from the state government and Udhayanidhi over a plea seeking an FIR against him.
The bench also issued notices to MPs — the DMK’s A Raja and the VCK’s Tholkappiyan Thirumavalavan alias Thol Thirumavalavan — and the Union Home Ministry.
DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin recently blamed Sanatana Dharma for promoting division and discrimination among people and said that it should be “eradicated”.
Speaking at a conference on “Abolition of Sanatana” in Chennai on 2 September, organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association, Udhayanidhi said, “Few things cannot be opposed, they should be abolished.”
He added, “We can’t oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria or corona. We have to eradicate them. In the same way, we have to eradicate Sanatana, rather than oppose it.”
He also said that the word Sanatanam was derived from Sanskrit, that it was against equality and social justice, and that it had been a hindrance to society.
As a controversy erupted over his comments, DMK MP A Raja, too, waded in and called Sanatana Dharma a “social disgrace”.
Speaking at a protest meeting against Vishwakarma Yojana, organised by the Dravidar Kazhagam in Chennai on 6 September, Raja said Udhayanidhi’s comparisons were too mild and went on to compare Sanatana Dharma to HIV and leprosy.
The Delhi Police received two police complaints from different sources against Udhayanidhi on 3 September.
In one case, right-wing outfit Hindu Sena filed a complaint, with its national president Vishnu Gupta stating that the Tamil Nadu minister had insulted Sanatana Dharma “under a well-thought-out strategy”.
A second complaint was lodged by Vineet Jindal, a practising lawyer.
In a video posted on X, he claimed that what Udhayanidhi had said amounted to hate speech, pointing out that Supreme Court guidelines say anyone delivering a hate speech should have an FIR lodged against them, even if there is no complaint.
A petition was filed before a court in Bihar on 4 September, against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi. The petitioner reportedly asked the court to take cognisance of the matter and order a probe against the father and son.
On 6 September, an FIR was filed in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, against the DMK leader as well as Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, for allegedly “inciting religious sentiment”.
Priyank Kharge was booked for backing Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remark.
Another FIR was registered against Udhayanidhi Stalin in Maharashtra regarding his remarks on Sanatana Dharma. Mira Road police in Thane registered an FIR against Udhayanidhi following a complaint on 13 September.
The complainant claimed that Udhayanidhi’s remarks have hurt the sentiments and religious feelings of those who follow the principles of Sanatana Dharma, as per the FIR.
(With PTI inputs)
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