Legal action against Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his controversial comments regarding Sanatan Dharma commenced in a Jammu court on September 22. This development follows an application submitted by members of the Ekun Sanatan Bharat Dal on September 16, seeking an FIR against the DMK leader for his contentious remarks calling for the “eradication” of Sanatan Dharma.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for 20 October 2023, with a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) from Jammu appointed as the Enquiry Officer.
Speaking at the “Eradicate Sanatan Conclave”, DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said “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. So, my appreciations to you all for giving an apt title to the meeting.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is the son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, has firmly refused to apologize for his comment characterizing Sanatana Dharma as a disease that should be eliminated. He has reiterated his readiness to face any legal consequences for his statements.
MK Stalin had recently adviced DMK members to refrain from making any comments about Sanathana Dharma, a request made in response to several party members making headlines for such remarks. However, Udhayanidhi Stalin went against his own father’s advice reiterating that the party (DMK) was formed with the goal of eradicating Sanathana Dharma and will continue to work towards achieving it.
DMK MP A Raja had likened Sanathana Dharma to HIV AIDS and leprosy at an event and in what seemed like a Zoom call with other members of the leftist Dravidianist ecosystem adding that Sanathana Dharma was a nuisance to the world.
The Ekun Sanatan Bharat Dal assert that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s choice of words was ‘genocidal,’ as they “created ill-will among practitioners of different religions” and “caused fear in the minds of the applicants as well as the public at large.” They further allege that the minister intentionally made such statements to “outrage the religious feelings of Sanatan Dharma practitioners.”
The Sanatan Dharma controversy has also reached the Supreme Court, which issued a notice to Stalin and the Tamil Nadu government, requesting their response to a plea seeking an FIR against the DMK leader.
Additionally, notices were served to DMK MP A Raja, VCK MP Thirumavalavan, CPI-M MP SU Venkatesan, Tamil Nadu DGP, Greater Chennai Police Commissioner, Union Home Ministry, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department PK Sekar Babu, Chairman of Tamil Nadu State Minorities Commission Peter Alphonse, and others involved in the matter. The plea was submitted by B Jagannath, who, as per his lawyer, believes that the minister allegedly advised school students not to believe in Sanatan Dharma.
Jammu Court initiates Criminal Proceedings against Udayanidhi Stalin for his vitriol against “Sanatan Dharma”.
Court has appointed Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu as the Enquiry Officer.
I congratulate Sh. Atul Raina; Sh. Pankaj Sharma & Sh. Nikhil Narayan (… pic.twitter.com/IDHuoX5giY
— Ankur Sharma (@AnkurSharma_Adv) September 22, 2023
Jammu Court initiates Criminal Proceedings against Udayanidhi Stalin for his vitriol against “Sanatan Dharma”.
Court has appointed Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu as the Enquiry Officer.
Great work @AnkurSharma_Adv ji! pic.twitter.com/ONCO7BY2nE— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) September 22, 2023
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