'Wait and see!': Udhayanidhi Stalin responds to Pawan Kalyan's 'Sanatana Dharma' warning
- In Reports
- 04:49 PM, Oct 04, 2024
- Myind Staff
DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin smiled and responded with a four-word reply on Friday to Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan, who brought up his previous comment comparing "Sanatana Dharma" to malaria and dengue. Stalin remarked, "Let's wait and see... let's wait and see."
The deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Kalyan, issued a bold challenge to "a Tamil Nadu leader who says 'Sanatana Dharma' is like a virus and must be destroyed" on Thursday. He was giving a speech at the Tirupati temple in the midst of a political controversy surrounding allegations that animal fat was used in the ghee that was used to make the laddoos, which are offerings made to the god and their followers.
Declaring himself a "unapologetic'sanatani' Hindu, Kalyan, dressed in saffron, said, "Don't say 'Sanatana Dharma' is like a virus and (you) will destroy (it). Whoever said this, let me tell you sir... you cannot wipe out 'Sanatana Dharma'. If anyone tries... then you will be wiped out.” Despite not mentioning Udhayanidhi Stalin by name, the allusion was evident (especially since he spoke in Tamil during that portion of his speech), and the DMK quickly retaliated.
Speaking on behalf of the party, Dr Syed Hafeezullah stated that the DMK "will continue to talk against caste atrocities, untouchability, and caste hierarchy" but "does not talk about any religion, or Hinduism in particular".
"... it is the people from the BJP, TDP, and Pawan Kalyan who use religion and Hindu gods for political gains. They are the real enemies... this statement (by Mr Kalyan) is an attempt to divert attention from crores affected by their policies," Dr Hafeezullah stated.
The comment made by Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding "Sanatana Dharma" caused a heated political controversy, especially since it was made a few months before the 2024 Lok Sabha election and in the midst of the Bhartiya Janata Party's determined attempt to gain support in Tamil Nadu, a state in which it has never gained any traction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi even spoke out about the "Sanatana Dharma virus" controversy; speaking with news agency ANI, he criticised the Congress, a party that supports the DMK, for hanging around with "people who are spewing such venom against 'Sanatana Dharma'."
At a public function in Chennai, Stalin made the statement. He expressed the opinion that "Sanatana Dharma" needed to be eradicated rather than merely opposed. In addition to being essentially hostile to equality and social justice, he contended that the idea is regressive by nature and separates people based on gender and caste.
The outcry was immediate, but, the day after, Mr Stalin doubled down. "I will repeat the same thing again and again", he said, while also clarifying he had only condemned caste-based differences within Indian society. "I included all the religions and not just Hinduism... I spoke condemning the caste differences, that is all," he asserted.
Following Pawan Kalyan's jibe this morning, the DMK reiterated that point. "And, as far as the DMK's stand on caste untouchability goes. It is similar to that taken by Periyar. Whoever is promoting it... you can call it anything but DMK will continue to oppose these practices," said Dr Hafeezullah.
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