On the 11th of September, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat delivered a fiery speech in which he issued a stark warning to those critical of Sanatana Dharma, stating that “their tongue will be pulled out and their eyes will be plucked out.” This controversial statement came during an election rally in Rajasthan’s Barmer as part of the BJP’s Parivartan Sankalp Yatra.
The Union Minister of Jal Shakti expressed concern over what he perceived as attempts to undermine Sanatana Dharma, a term often used to refer to Hinduism’s ancient and traditional practices. He asserted that this spiritual heritage had been preserved by ancestors at great personal sacrifice and vowed not to tolerate any attempts to disparage it. He went on to declare, “I want to inform those who speak against Sanatana Dharma that we will pull out their tongues if they do so. Those who look at it with disdain, we will pluck out every such eye.”
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat did not mince his words, emphasizing that anyone who spoke against Sanatana Dharma would find it challenging to establish political influence and standing in the country.The controversial remarks made by the Union Minister did not go unnoticed, with AIMIM’s leader Asaduddin Owaisi sharing a video of the speech and taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Owaisi accused the minister of advocating violence, adding a grim note by suggesting that it was becoming an “Open Season.”
In response to this ongoing controversy, BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya also joined the conversation, addressing comments made by DMK leader Udhayanidhi and actor Prakash Raj regarding Sanatana Dharma. She strongly asserted that no one possessed the capacity to eradicate Sanatana Dharma and denounced those who criticized it, labelling them as villains who spoke against their own country. Pragya expressed her frustration, stating, “They have no idea about what we are doing. The people who called Sanatana Dharma a disease like leprosy, malaria, dengue, and AIDS should also experience the suffering of these diseases. This is my prayer to God.”
The controversy surrounding Sanatana Dharma took root earlier this month when Udhayanidhi Stalin, a prominent DMK leader, made statements alleging that this ancient belief system was against equality and social justice and should be eradicated. He even compared it to infectious diseases, including coronavirus, malaria, and dengue fever, implying that it should be destroyed rather than opposed.
Udhayanidhi’s remarks ignited outrage, with BJP’s IT department in-charge, Amit Malviya, accusing him of calling for the “genocide” of the 80 percent of the population that follows Sanatana Dharma.
In another instance of heated rhetoric, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat targeted Rajasthan Minister Shanti Dhariwal for a comment he made the previous year. Dhariwal had linked “masculinity” to incidents of rape, leading Shekhawat to suggest that the Congress leader should be “thrown into the Arabian Sea” for his remarks.
Dhariwal, who serves as the state’s Urban Development and Housing Minister, had ignited controversy when he seemed to justify rapes during a session in the state Assembly. He stated, “Rajasthan mardon ka Pradesh hai,” implying that Rajasthan is a state dominated by men.
In response, Shekhawat acknowledged that Rajasthan’s cultural heritage and “masculinity” had played a role in preserving Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma. However, he condemned Dhariwal’s comments as a stain on that very “masculinity.” Shekhawat also criticized the Congress MLAs for laughing and clapping in response to Dhariwal’s remarks, likening their behaviour to that of “impotent men” and “eunuchs.”
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 13th September 2023
