The Christmas and welfare program, organized by the Synod of Pentecostal churches, was held at Bethel Metropolitan Cathedral in Coimbatore. DMK scion and Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin participated in the event and delivered a ‘heartfelt’ speech celebrating the spirit of Christmas.
Addressing the gathering, Udhayanidhi reflected on the ‘universal joy’ of the Christmas season. “If there is a festival that brings happiness to the whole world, it is Christmas. I am even happier when Christmas arrives,” he remarked.
He spoke about his personal connection to Christian institutions, sharing that he had studied at Don Bosco School and Loyola College. Referring to a statement he made at a Christmas event last year, he said, “I proudly declared, ‘I am also a Christian.’ Immediately many ‘Sanghis’ had stomachburns. Today, I say it again—I am proud to say that I am a Christian.”.
Though ‘Sanghi’ is a term referring to a devout Hindu, a subscriber of Hindutva ideology, a support of BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and everything in that spectrum, it is used by leftists, Islamists and Dravidianists to derogate their ideological and political opponents.
The Deputy CM later went on to play it safe, stating, “If you think of me as a Christian, I am a Christian. If you think of me as a Muslim, I am a Muslim. If you think of me as a Hindu, I belong to all. The foundation of all religions is love. Every religion teaches us to love one another.”
” நான் ஒரு கிறிஸ்டியன் என்று சொல்லிக் கொள்வதில் பெருமை கொள்கிறேன்..! “ எங்கு பார்த்தாலும் நட்சத்திரம் ஜொலிக்கிறது..! ஒட்டு மொத்த உலகையே மகிழ்ச்சியில் ஆழ்த்த கூடிய விழா கிறிஸ்துமஸ் தான்.. உதயநிதி பேச்சு#Covai | #DMK | #UdhayanidhiStalin | #Christmas2024 | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/FLQYAcgSdu
— Polimer News (@polimernews) December 18, 2024
Repeat From The Past
In 2022, speaking at a Christmas celebration event organized on 22 December 2022) at Chennai’s Harbour constituency, he said, “I’m proud to call myself a Christian. Today, all Sanghis (a colloquial reference denoting devout Hindus and supporters of RSS-BJP) will be burning. Because Sekarbabu (Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Minister) is saying ‘Hallelujah’, Udhayanidhi is saying ‘I’m a Christian’. Yes, I will say that I’m a Muslim too.”
Wow that's news to me…. pic.twitter.com/H0gUOzzMWw
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) December 22, 2022
Addressing the audience, Udhayanidhi Stalin said “From the same platform last year, the speech I made became a big topic of discussion. I said that I’m proud to be a Christian, I studied in Don Bosco school and Loyola College. Again I’m saying, I’m a Christian and I am proud to call myself a Christian.”
Earlier in 2022, Udhayanidhi Stalin speaking at the Christmas celebrations organized in the same Harbour constituency said that he and his wife are Christians.
However this time, the DMK scion went on to play safe saying “But I am not going to stop there this time. If you call me a Christian, I’m a Christian. If you call me a Hindu, I’m a Hindu. If you call me a Muslim, I’m Muslim. I don’t have any caste or religion. I will keep telling that everybody is equal by birth. Our leaders – ‘Thanthai’ Periyar, ‘Perarignar’ Anna, ‘Muthamizharignar’ Dr. Kalaignar (Karunanidhi), our leader CM (Stalin) has taught us only this. I will keep talking about it anywhere, anytime, how many ever times. I am sure that you will agree with what I say.”
In 2023, during the Christmas celebrations held in Chennai’s Harbour constituency, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekar Babu, Chennai Mayor Priya, and several Christian pastors shared the dais with the attendees.
Addressing the audience, Udhayanidhi Stalin once again said “From the same platform last year, the speech I made became a big topic of discussion. I said that I’m proud to be a Christian, I studied in Don Bosco school and Loyola College. Again I’m saying, I’m a Christian and I am proud to call myself a Christian.”
Trying to play safe, he said, “But I am not going to stop there this time. If you call me a Christian, I’m a Christian. If you call me a Hindu, I’m a Hindu. If you call me a Muslim, I’m Muslim. I don’t have any caste or religion. I will keep telling that everybody is equal by birth. Our leaders – ‘Thanthai’ Periyar, ‘Perarignar’ Anna, ‘Muthamizharignar’ Dr. Kalaignar (Karunanidhi), our leader CM (Stalin) has taught us only this. I will keep talking about it anywhere, anytime, how many ever times. I am sure that you will agree with what I say.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin had landed himself in soup in September 2023 when he called for the ‘eradication of Sanatana Dharma’ also known as Hinduism saying “Mosquitoes, dengue, flu, malaria, corona – we should not oppose these things. They’ve to be eradicated completely. Same is the case with Santanam (Hinduism). Our first work should be to abolish/eradicate Sanatanam instead of opposing it.” This had led to a national outrage with even the I.N.D.I. allies distancing themselves from the DMK.
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