Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Condemns DMK Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Remark on Sanatan Dharma

On September 4th, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed strong disapproval of Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments regarding Sanatan Dharma, asserting that they were not a mere slip of the tongue but a deliberate attempt to denigrate India’s civilization and its faith. Pradhan made these remarks during a press conference in Delhi.

The Union Minister also took a dig at the opposition parties, alleging that they were employing a “divide and rule” strategy and questioned whether such actions were taken to appease the Gandhi family. He referenced the introduction of the term “saffron terrorism” in 2012 and emphasized that divisive narratives fueled hatred within society.

Moreover, Pradhan criticized Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his silence on Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments. He argued that such statements were made for political gain and questioned why leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, and Tejashwi Yadav had remained silent on the matter. He also called out Sharad Pawar for his lack of response.

Pradhan accused certain political figures of not upholding the Constitution and highlighted that the court had ruled that Hindutva was not just a form of worship but a way of life and a system.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh echoed these sentiments, demanding apologies from Congress and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) coalition leaders for Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks. He criticized the DMK for allegedly insulting Sanatan Dharma and questioned the silence of leaders like Gehlot and Sonia Gandhi.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, the first Congress leader to comment on Udhayanidhi Stalin’s statement, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the ideology of ‘Sarva Dharma Samabhava’ (equality of all religions) and the respect for everyone’s beliefs. He emphasized that every political party had the freedom to express its views and that Congress respected all religious beliefs.

Udhayanidhi Stalin, who faced substantial criticism for his comments, clarified that he had not called for the abolition of Sanatan Dharma but had merely criticized it. He accused the BJP of distorting his statement and spreading false information. Despite the controversy, he asserted his readiness to face any legal action that may be taken against him, adding that the BJP was using such tactics to divert attention. He also stated that the DMK’s policy was “One clan, one God.”

News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 5th September  2023