Sanatana Dharma like dengue, malaria: Udhayanidhi Stalin's remark sparks row

Chennai: DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin courted controversy by making remarks on "eradicating Sanatana Dharma" The young DMK leader's statement while addressing a conference organised in Chennai by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association on 'Eradication of Sanatana' triggered big row. The minister said that Sanatana is like malaria and dengue and so it must be eradicated and not opposed.

"I thank the organisers of this conference for allowing me to deliver a special address. You have kept the name of the conference as 'Sanatana Abolition Conference' rather than 'Anti-Sanatana Conference', I appreciate that," Udhayanidhi said.

"A few things cannot be opposed, that should be abolished only. We can't oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona. We have to eradicate this, that's how we have to eradicate Sanatana. Rather than opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated," he added.

The BJP hit out at Udhayanidhi for the remarks with the party IT Cell head Amit Malviya criticizing "he is calling for genocide of 80% population of Bharat, who follow Sanatan Dharma."

"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 follow Sanatan Dharma.

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? tweeted Amit Malaviya.

However, responding to BJP's criticism, Udhayanidhi said, "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 on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma.

I am ready to present the extensive writings of Periyar and Ambedkar, who conducted in-depth research on Sanatan 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."

Meanwhile, BJP's Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai accused Udhayanidhi of peddling a "bought-out idea from Christian missionaries".

 "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 ******* like you to parrot their malicious ideology."

Taking a further swipe at Udhayanidhi, the BJP state chief posted, "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!"