Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin, sparked a significant controversy by illustrating a connection between Sanatana Dharma and diseases like “dengue” and “malaria”. He assisted in the elimination of Sanatana Dharma, stating that it is based on the caste system and it promotes discrimination among the people. The minister expressed his point of view and conveyed that instead of simply opposing Sanatana Dharma, it should be completely eliminated. He also noted that the term “Sanatana” originated from Sanskrit which is against the principles of social justice and equality.
The Minister strongly argued that Sanatana Dharma is a principle which divides people based on caste and religion. He said that removing Sanatana Dharma is an obligation to maintain humanity and in promoting human equality. He said he would stand still by every word he has spoken about this matter.
Udhayanidhi Stalin recently commented on the controversy about his remarks on Sanatana Dharma. He criticized the decision of the central government for not inviting President Droupadi Murmu to the inauguration of the new Parliament, referring to it as a clear example of discrimination. He also mentioned the Mahabharata story of Dronacharya and Ekalavya to highlight his point.
The State Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister also expressed that “teachers always consider the well-being of future generations”.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader made an indirect reference to the Mahabharata in a Teacher’s Day message. He stated that, “The immortal connection between the Dravidian movement and the teachers who transmit knowledge and wisdom without demanding anything in return will remain unbroken.” He also mentioned the story of Ekalavya, who was denied archery lessons by Dronacharya due to his lower caste. Nonetheless, Ekalavya became a proficient archer, topping Dronacharya’s student, Arjuna. When Dronacharya got to know about this, he got angry and demanded Ekalavya’s thumb as a tribute to his teacher, which left Ekalavya incapable of practicing archery.
Criticism continued to mount the DMK leader with over 250 individuals, including former judges and bureaucrats, wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud urging him to acknowledge the “eradicate Sanatana Dharma”, the statement was then categorized as “hate speech.” Despite the political controversy at the national level, Udhayanidhi Stalin maintained his attitude, claiming that he never advocated for the genocide of individuals practicing Sanatana Dharma. He then pointed out that few individuals had misinterpreted his remarks.
