The controversy over the Sanatan Dharma began with DMK political heir apparent and youth welfare minister Udhayanidhi Stain by saying, “Some things cannot be opposed, they should be eradicated. Mosquitoes, dengue fever, malaria, and Corona cannot be opposed. They should be eradicated. So should Sanatan [Dharma].” He said in his address to Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association in Chennai. PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, Sushil Modi and others came down heavily on Udhyanidhi for his rhetoric.
Soon after his speech hit headlines, condemnations poured from all over the country. Delhi SC lawyer and activist Vineet Jindal filed police complaint against. Now cases have been registered in UP, Bihar and other north Indian states. Even after the nationwide backlash, Udhayanidhi defended his stand nad was unrelenting. He said “I am reiterating that I only criticised Sanatan Dharma and said that Sanatan Dharma should be eradicated. I will say this continuously. 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”.
The hindu phobic Former Union Minister A Raja ( who exhibited his religion while conducting funeral service of his wife in Christian way and told in public part of the religion) said Sanatana is deadly like HIV AIDS and Leprosy.
Coming to his son’s defence, CM Stalin said “Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed certain comments about inhuman principles preached by Sanatan. He expressed his views on Sanatan principles that discriminate against Scheduled Castes, tribals, and women, with no intention to offend any religion or religious beliefs. “They use the term ‘Sanatan’ to perpetuate oppression of women, who make up more than half of humankind. Udhayanidhi only spoke against such oppressive ideologies and called (for the) eradication of practices based on those ideologies,”
In a strong point by point rebuttal, TN BJP chief K Annamaalai dared the DMK to face polls on anti-sanatana plank. In a video , he said “ Let DMK fight in the coming Lok Sabha election with their call for eradication of sana tana dharma as their poll plank and we (BJP) will fight to protect and preserve sana tana dharma. Let us see where the people of Tamil Nadu stand”.
https://twitter.com/annamalai_k/status/1699719720919060558?s=20
He said “Honorable Chief Minister Thiru M .K. Stalin Sir, Vanakam. We all happened to read your statement that was put out on the social media handle and also your son’s statement that was put out on his social media handle. It is good that both of you are toning down and both of you know that you are fighting a losing battle over the last 3 -4 days. And today, not only have you defended something, but also you have spoken some lies against our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji. I believe it is my bounding duty as a BJP Karyakarta to respond to that. ”
Annamalai said “I am sure with the way our Honorable Prime Minister is working with integrity and hard work, even as we speak now, he is in Indonesia promoting our national interest, and immediately on September 9 and 10, the G20 meeting that is going to happen where India will be at the center stage of the global map. So, please don’t bother our Prime Minister to respond to your unfounded, false, and diabolical allegations.”
“Sir, at the outset, you mentioned Sanatana Dharma which essentially itself practices discrimination. That is why your movement is founded. Sir, I would like to take back you to two eminent leaders who were born out of your movements. One is the great leader from the scheduled caste community, Mr. M .C. Raja. Do you know, sir, why did he quit the Justice Party in 1923? A great Dalit leader, M .C. Raja, he quit the Justice Party in 1923 because he said the very founding principle of the Justice Party was not in tune with what they practiced. Justice Party, when they came into existence, they said they wanted to abolish the Brahminical domination in Tamil Nadu. That was their allegation from the Justice Party. M .C. Raja said the so-called Brahminical domination is replaced by the upper caste Hindu domination. There is no space for an SC leader inside the Justice Party. That is why painfully he quit in 1923.”
The TN BJP chief said “I am sure, sir, you will not have missed out on Madam Satyavani Muthu. She was the first Dalit woman minister from Tamil Nadu. In 1974, right inside the Tamil Nadu assembly, as a member of your father’s cabinet, she leveled serious allegations against Mr. Karnanidhi inside the assembly stating that Mr. Karnanidhi was against the interest of the Dalit community and SC community. The funds are not being given. So, she has got certain misgivings. And inside the assembly, in Indian history, we never saw a minister complaining against her own chief minister. What is the price Madam Satyavani Muthu got? She was sacked from the cabinet and later she was expelled from the party. These are some of the instances where I can give you the early part of your movement, how Dalit leaders were treated right inside your party. When you say that you are here to abolish certain ills of Sanatana Dharma and to promote equality, it is like Satan talking about Vedas to God. So, please don’t get into that territory, sir. That is my humble submission to you.”
He said “Also, sir, you mentioned that DMK as a party is very progressive. Anyone who is looking at your cabinet, current cabinet now, out of 35 ministers, 3 ministers are from the SC community. and 2 women ministers with insignificance portfolios. Do you call this as progressive? The prevalence of two tumbler system is highest in TN. Many dalit Panchayat presidents were not allowed to hoist national flags during Independence day”.
Annamalai in a nearly 12 minutes video cited several instances of DMK anti Dalit measures , workers, peasants and Hindu speeches. He also explained the meaning of sanatana dharma.
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