Patna: Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, has found himself embroiled in a controversy surrounding his recent statement on Sanatan Dharma, which continues to generate debate and discussion.
In response to Udhayanidhi’s statement, Chirag Paswan, the National President of the Lok Janshakti Party of Bihar and Jamui MP, expressed his views during an interview with ANI, On Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Sanatan Dharma remark, LJP (Ram Vilas) MP Chirag Paswan says, “It is beyond my understanding that when we are in the 21st century can such topics become the discussion of politics…Such things can only create factions in society…Who is following which religion or is an atheist is a matter of individual concern…Everyone has freedom in our country…You are hurting the sentiments of people…I am also surprised by the timing of this statement as it comes after the third meeting of opposition…”.
#WATCH | On Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's Sanatan Dharma remark, LJP (Ram Vilas) MP Chirag Paswan says, "It is beyond my understanding that when we are in the 21st century can such topics become the discussion of politics…Such things can only create factions in… pic.twitter.com/xK223VSLfO
— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2023
Meanwhile, Sushil Modi, a prominent BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, strongly criticized Udhayanidhi’s remarks. Modi called for the arrest and imprisonment of Stalin’s son, accusing him of spreading hatred within society. He pointed out the apparent contradiction between Rahul Gandhi’s message of promoting love and unity and the actions of a prominent Tamil Nadu government leader affiliated with the Congress, who not only criticized Sanatan Dharma but also advocated its destruction.
#WATCH पटना: बिहार के पूर्व उपमुख्यमंत्री और भाजपा नेता सुशील मोदी ने कहा, "ये योजनाबद्ध तरीके से हिंदू धर्म को अपमानित किया जा रहा है। हिंदू धर्म के खिलाफ टिप्पणी की जा रही है। स्टालिन ने जो भाषण पढ़ा वे लिखित भाषण था। करोड़ों हिंदुओं की भावनाओं को ठेस पहुंचाने वाले बयान दिए… pic.twitter.com/wALEB4J8to
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) September 4, 2023
He expressed his concerns, stating, “This appears to be a deliberate effort to demean Hinduism systematically. There are comments being made that target Hinduism. It’s worth noting that Stalin’s speech was prepared in advance. What’s distressing is that such harmful statements are being made, and notable figures like Karti Chidambaram and Lalu Yadav have remained silent on this issue, while Nitish Kumar has refrained from commenting.”
In response to the political controversy across the country, a complaint was filed in the Muzaffarpur Court of Bihar. Advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha filed this complaint, alleging that Udhayanidhi’s remarks had hurt the sentiments of Sanatan Dharma. The complaint cited several sections of the law and named MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin as accused parties.
Advocate Sudhir Ojha claimed that Udhayanidhi’s statement was made with the intent of political gain and had been deliberately crafted to offend. The complaint was filed under sections 500, 504, 294 (A), 298, and 120B.
The crux of the matter revolves around Udhayanidhi Stalin’s statement during a conference, where he likened Sanatan Dharma to diseases like malaria and dengue, suggesting that it needed to be eradicated. Udhayanidhi holds the position of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister in Tamil Nadu and is also known for his involvement in the film industry as a writer, director, and actor.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s working president, Alok Kumar, expressed his surprise and dismay at the language and sentiment behind Udhayanidhi’s statement. He criticized the arrogance and abuse of power displayed in the statement, emphasizing that Sanatan Dharma had faced and overcome challenges from various quarters throughout history. Kumar pointed out that those who sought to destroy Sanatan Dharma would ultimately suffer their own destruction.