Sanatana must be eradicated, like corona or dengue, says Udhayanidhi Stalin; sparks outrage

BJP leaders were especially quick to lash out against his remarks, claiming that Udhayanidhi was calling for genocide, given that 80 percent of the population of India followed “Hinduism”. Sanatana is a term used by many as a synonym for Hindu religious code.

This led Udhayanidhi to go on the defensive and offer a clarification, which led to further criticism.

Also read: TN was reason for the formation of Sanatana Dharma, says RN Ravi

The controversy

Speaking at a conference on “Abolition of Sanatana” in Chennai on Saturday, organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers, 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 opposing it.”

தமிழ்நாடு முற்போக்கு எழுத்தாளர் கலைஞர்கள் சங்கம் ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்த சனாதன ஒழிப்பு மாநாட்டில் இன்று பங்கேற்றோம்.

ஈராயிரம் ஆண்டுகளாக வெவ்வேறு வடிவங்களில் வந்து கொண்டிருக்கும் சனாதனத்தை, திராவிட – கம்யூனிச சித்தாந்தங்கள் மூலம் வீழ்த்துவோம்; சமத்துவத்தையும் – சமூகநீதியையும்… pic.twitter.com/jCS41ejKax

— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) September 2, 2023

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.

BJP I-T wing chief Amit Malviya took on Udhayanidhi on X (formerly Twitter).

Sharing a clip of the Tamil Nadu minister’s video, the saffron party leader said: “Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamilnadu CM MK Stalin, and a minister in the DMK Govt, has linked Sanatana Dharma to malaria and dengue… [sic]”

He noted: “He is of the opinion that it must be eradicated and not merely opposed. In short, he is calling for the genocide of 80% population of Bharat, who follow Sanatan Dharma. [sic]”

Malviya also said: “DMK is a prominent member of the Opposition block and a long-standing ally of the Congress. Is this what was agreed in the Mumbai meet? [sic]”

Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamilnadu CM MK Stalin, and a minister in the DMK Govt, has linked Sanatana Dharma to malaria and dengue… He is of the opinion that it must be eradicated and not merely opposed. In short, he is calling for genocide of 80% population of Bharat, who… pic.twitter.com/4G8TmdheFo

— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) September 2, 2023

The BJP leader also shared the video of Udhayanidhi with a Hindi subtitle, stating that while Rahul Gandhi speaks of “mohabbat ki dukaan”, Congress-ally DMK’s scion was speaking about eradicating Sanatana Dharma.

Udhayanidhi Stalin’s hate speech with Hindi subtitles.

Rahul Gandhi speaks of ‘मोहब्बत की दुकान’ but Congress ally DMK’s scion talks about eradicating Sanatana Dharma. Congress’s silence is support for this genocidal call…

I.N.D.I Alliance, true to its name, if given an… https://t.co/hfTVBBxHQ5 pic.twitter.com/ymMY04f983

— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) September 2, 2023

Also read: No one can harm DMK, says Udhayanidhi after ‘leaked’ audio

Never called for genocide: Udhayanidhi

Responding to the criticism, Udhayanidhi clarified that he never called for the genocide of people who were following Sanatan Dharma.

In reply to Malviya’s tweet, Udhayanidhi said: “Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality. I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma. [sic]”

I never called for the genocide of people who are following Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality.

I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke… https://t.co/Q31uVNdZVb

— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) September 2, 2023

He added that he was ready to present the extensive writings of reformist Thanthai Periyar and Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, who conducted in-depth research on Sanatana Dharma and its negative impact on society, in any forum.

“Let me reiterate the crucial aspect of my speech: I believe, like the spread of diseases like COVID-19, Dengue, and Malaria by mosquitoes, that Sanatan Dharma is responsible for many social evils. I am prepared to confront any challenges that come my way, whether in a court of law or the people’s court. Stop spreading fake news [sic],” Udhayanidhi said.

Responding to his clarification, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai said the only resolve that the “Gopalapuram Family” had was to accumulate wealth beyond the state GDP.

The only resolve that the Gopalapuram Family has is to accumulate wealth beyond the State GDP.

Thiru @Udhaystalin, you, your father, or his or your idealogue have a bought-out idea from Christian missionaries & the idea of those missionaries was to cultivate dimwits like you to… https://t.co/sWVs3v1viM

— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) September 2, 2023

Tagging Udhayanidhi on X, Annamalai said “You, your father, or his or your idealogue have a bought-out idea from Christian missionaries & the idea of those missionaries was to cultivate dimwits like you to parrot their malicious ideology. Tamil Nadu is a land of spiritualism. The best you can do is to hold a Mic in an event like this & rant out your frustration! [sic]”

Several right-wing IDs associated with the BJP IT Wing also took on Udhayanidhi for his remarks and called for appropriate legal action against him.

Responding to these threats of legal action, Udhayanidhi said “Bring it on. I am ready to face any legal challenge. We will not be cowed down by such usual saffron threats [sic].”

He added, “We, the followers of Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar, would fight forever to uphold social justice and establish an egalitarian society under the able guidance of our Hon’ble CM @mkstalin. I will say it today, tomorrow, and forever: Our resolve to stop Sanathana Dharma from the Dravidian land would not reduce even a bit [sic].”

“Sanathana Dharma is code for a Caste Hierarchical Society”

Congress MP in Lok Sabha Karti Chidambaram defended Udhayanidhi Stalin’s statement on Sanatana Dharma. Taking to his social media pages, Karti said in the common parlance of Tamil Nadu, “Sanathana Dharma” means Caste Hierarchical Society.

In the common parlance of TN “ Sanathana Dharma” means Caste Hierarchical Society. Why is that everyone who is batting for “SD” comes from the privileged segment who are beneficiaries of the “Hierarchy” There was no call for “Genocide” against anyone, this is a mischievous spin.

— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) September 3, 2023

Karti Chidambaram deemed the allegations of “call for genocide” was a mischievous spin. This isn’t the first time that remarks by leaders of DMK on Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism have sparked a row. Former Union minister and senior DMK leader A Raja’s comments on the place of Shudras in the Hindu caste system in September last year too had drawn flak. Even as BJP leaders demanded an apology, a defiant Raja doubled down on his criticism with the DMK backing him.

Also read: Annamalai’s Rafale watch triggers row over graft, ‘nationalism’

2 police complaints

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police received two police complaints from two different sources against Udhayanidhi on Sunday.

In one case, right-wing outfit Hindu Sena filed a complaint, with its national president Vishnu Gupta saying in it that the Tamil Nadu minister had insulted the Sanatana Dharma “under a well-thought-out strategy”.

As a result, “my feelings and those of the followers of Sanatan Dharma have been religion sentiment hurt”, he added.

“A criminal case should be registered against Stalin for insulting Sanatana Dharma,” he said.

Hindu Sena files complaint against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's son and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin with @CPDelhi pic.twitter.com/RDeLTfFX80

— Vishnu Gupta 🕉️ (@VishnuGupta_HS) September 3, 2023

A second complaint was lodged by Vineet Jindal, a practising lawyer. This, too, happened on Sunday.

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 day had passed since the DMK leader had made the speech, but no FIR had been lodged, he went on to note in the clip.

He also said that anyone making such statements should have an FIR lodged against them, and then be given the strictest legal punishment.

उदयनिधि स्टैलिन ने देश में सनातन को मिटाने की बात कि है सनातन के लिए अपशब्द बोले है ये हेट स्पीच है और इस पर SC के निर्देश अनुसार FIR होनी चाहिए थी पर नहीं हुई तो मैंने आज एक शिकायत @DelhiPolice के पास दायर की है:- विनीत जिंदल , अधिवक्ता व सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता pic.twitter.com/RyU9ss02xz

— Adv.Vineet Jindal (@vineetJindal19) September 3, 2023