Sanatana Dharma Row: IMK Chief Arjun Sampath Arrested While Protesting Against DMK Mins Udhayanidhi & PK Sekhar Babu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin stoked a controversy claiming that Sanatana Dharma like Dengue, Malaria, and Corona has to be eradicated and not just opposed.

The incident happened during the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association organized “Eradicate Sanatanam Conclave” at Kamarajar Chennai on 2 September 2023, akin to the anti-Hindu Dismantling Global Hindutva conference that was held in 2021.

Following his comments, politicians including the alliance partners of DMK such as Congress and Shiva Sena, and some political commentators have condemned Udhayanidhi Stalin’s speech.

Following Udhayanidhi’s speech, DMK spokesperson Constantine Ravindran has sparked another controversy by what can be construed as a racist statement, asserting that people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar lack common sense and intelligence because of the domination of Santana Dharma.

Even before the dust could settle on Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks, DMK MP A. Raja likened Sanatana Dharma to HIV AIDS and leprosy. The DMK Lok Sabha MP who is also the Deputy General Secretary of the party said that Udhayanidhi had only compared Sanatana Dharma to diseases like malaria and dengue, and went on to say that Sanatan Dharma should be compared to HIV and social stigmas.

In this situation, Indu Makkal Katchi chief Arjun Sampath had staged a protest against Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and HR&CE Minister PK Sekhar Babu. During the protest, IMK raised slogans to dismiss and arrest both ministers. Following the protest, IMK chief Arjun Sampath and the cadres of IMK were arrested.

During a recent press conference addressing the matter a few days back, Arjun Sampath, the leader of IMK, expressed his disapproval of the participation of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Minister Shekhar Babu and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Sanatana Eradication Conference held in Chennai on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers’ & Artists Association. He characterized this involvement as both condemnable and unconstitutional. In light of this, Sampath called for the immediate resignation of Minister Shekhar Babu and Udhayanidhi Stalin from their respective positions.

He also questioned if Udhayanithi would attend if they conducted Christian Abolition Conferences and Muslim Abolition Conferences. He added that the cadres of IMK would present a complaint petition in all the districts, insisting on the immediate dismissal of Minister Shekharbabu and Udhayanidhi.

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