"As far as we are concerned, we consider Sanatana Dharma as a social disease and disgusting, equalising it to HIV and leprosy," Raja said.
Published Sep 07, 2023 | 6:10 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 07, 2023 | 6:10 PM
A Raja. (X)
Throwing in his two cents on the Sanatana Dharma row, DMK MP A Raja has called Sanatana Dharma a “social disgrace”.
Speaking at a protest meeting against Vishwakarma Yojana, organised by the Dravidar Kazhagam in Chennai on Wednesday, 6 September, Raja went on to compare Sanatana Dharma to HIV and leprosy.
“Udhayanidhi Stalin said in a soft way that Sanatana should be eradicated like malaria, dengue, etc. There is no social stigma for malaria and dengue. People will not see it as disgusting things. People saw leprosy, in the past, and HIV, in the present, as disgusting diseases. As far as we are concerned, we consider Sanatana Dharma as a social disease and disgusting, equalising it to HIV and leprosy,” Raja said.
The former Union minister also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to an open debate.
“You come with one crore supporters. Bring Shankaracharyas and seers and all your weapons to have a discussion on Sanatana Dharma with me in Delhi. I will face you with only Periyar and Ambedkar books as my weapons. Fix the date and I am ready to come.”
Raja’s remarks have escalated the controversy first sparked by Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments on Sanatana Dharma.
BJP IT wing Chief Amit Malviya took to X following A Raja’s statements on Sanatana Dharma.
“After Udhayanidhi Stalin, it is now DMK’s A Raja, who denigrates Sanatan Dharma,” he posted.
After Udhaynidhi Stalin, it is now DMK’s A Raja, who denigrates Sanatan Dharma… This is nothing but unadulterated hate speech, targeting 80% of Bharat’s population, who follow Sanatan Dharma.
This is the true character of Congress led I.N.D.I Alliance, who think demeaning Hindus… pic.twitter.com/lLhVeFakhY— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 7, 2023
“This is nothing but unadulterated hate speech, targeting 80 percent of Bharat’s population, who follow Sanatan Dharma,” Malviya said.
Further dragging the Congress party into the controversy, Malviya stated, “This is the true character of Congress-led I.N.D.I Alliance, who think demeaning Hindus is the only way to win elections. Was this decided in the Mumbai meet?”
Earlier, Malviya had reacted to Udhayanidhi’s comments, claiming that what he said was a “genocide” call and that the Tamil Nadu minister was trying to provoke the people with communal statements with the intention of causing disharmony in society.
Meanwhile, the Tiruchy City Police in Tamil Nadu have booked Malviya under four sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the complaint of spreading false news that Udhayanidhi had called for genocide of those following Sanatana Dharma.
On Thursday, 7 September, the BJP described DMK leader A Raja’s remarks against Sanatana Dharma as “outrageous and vitriolic” and slammed the Opposition parties, saying Raja’s comments reflect the INDIA bloc’s “mental bankruptcy” and “deep-rooted Hinduphobia”.
“Changing name does not conceal one’s intent and character,” Union minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan wrote on X.
Changing name does not conceal one’s intent and character. Outrageous and vitriolic comments about #SanatanDharma, this time by DMK Minister A. Raja, reflects the mental bankruptcy and deep-rooted Hinduphobia that engulfs the I.N.D.I.A. bloc.
The country is watching how…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (मोदी का परिवार) (@dpradhanbjp) September 7, 2023
Reacting sharply to the Tamil Nadu minister’s remarks, Pradhan added, “Outrageous and vitriolic comments about Sanatan Dharma, this time by DMK minister A Raja, reflect the mental bankruptcy and deep-rooted Hinduphobia that engulfs the I.N.D.I.A bloc.”
He said that the country is watching how the Congress and its “friends are consciously maligning the soul, spirit and roots of Bharat”. Let these “hate-mongers be reminded that Sanatan is eternal, Sanatan is truth,” Pradhan added.
Not new to controversies and not one to depend on anyone to defend him, A Raja’s comments on Sanatana Dharma made waves in September 2022 as well.
In a function in Namakkal district, Raja said that Shudras are the children of prostitutes and will remain so as long as they are classified as Hindus. The DMK MP’s tirade against the Manusmriti and Sanatana Dharma earned him the wrath of the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
Barely hours after his speech made it to the headlines, leaders of the BJP and right-wing outfits, outraged over Raja’s alleged “insult to Hindu women”, had demanded that he apologise.
In another event on 21 September, 2022, Raja reiterated his statements against Sanatana Dharma.
Raja’s call for Dravidian parties to question Sanatana Dharma and his defiant defence of his statements have angered the BJP, whose leaders called him “anti-Hindu”.
