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Udhayanidhi has made such remarks in the past as well, and invited a strong criticism not just from political leaders but also from the court.
Chennai, May 12 (ANI): A newly elected Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly speaker, JCD Prabhakar with DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin and other MLAs at the Legislative Assembly, in Chennai on Tuesday. (TNDIPR/ANI Video Grab)(TNDIPR)Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly and DMK MLA, Udhayanidhi Stalin, again expressed remarks against the Sanatan Dharma, calling for its "eradication."
Addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday, Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “Sanathanam, which separated people, should be eradicated," news agency ANI reported.
Udhayanidhi has made such remarks in the past as well, and invited a strong criticism not just from political leaders but also from the court.
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Udhayanidhi Stalin stated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that Sanatan Dharma, which he believes separates people, should be eradicated. He used the Tamil phrase 'Sanatana ozhippu,' meaning eradication of Sanatana.
The BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan called Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks a 'toxic rant,' comparing him to Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of divisive politics. The party criticized him for his statements against Sanatana Dharma.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court observed that Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks, which called for the 'eradication' of Sanatana Dharma, amounted to 'hate speech'.
JCD Prabhakar, a TVK legislator, was unanimously elected as the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker. His nomination was proposed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
The controversy arose because the Tamil state song, Thaai Vaazhthu, was sung after Vande Mataram and the national anthem, deviating from the traditional protocol of the Tamil invocation song being sung first.
On January 21, this year, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on January 20 quashed the FIR registered in 2023 by the Tiruchi city police against BJP leader Amit Malviya for allegedly "distorting the comments" made by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sanatana Dharma.
Justice S Srimathy, while allowing the petition, observed that the remarks made by Udhayanidhi amounted to "hate speech."
Elaborating on the issue, the judge said the minister's speech must be examined in its entirety. "He stated that Sanatana Dharma should not merely be resisted or opposed, but should be abolished or eradicated. In Tamil, the expression used was not Sanatana ethirppu (opposition to Sanatana), but Sanatana ozhippu (eradication of Sanatana)," Justice Srimathy noted.
BJP slams remarks
The remarks drew immediate criticism from the BJP with spokesperson CR Kesavan calling it a toxic rant.
“Udayanidhi Stalin is the Rahul Gandhi of Tamilnadu, peddling divisive hate politics. Rahul Gandhi mocked the sacred Sengol and he insulted & boycotted the Pran Prathishta ceremony of Ram Mandir," the BJP leader said.
“Like Rahul Gandhi who has been rejected for the past 3 Lok Sabha elections, Udayanidhi Stalin despite being punished and ousted by the Tamil people continues with his toxic rant,” Kesavan said.
Earlier in the day, the newly-formed Tamil Nadu Assembly met after CM Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) recorded a thumping victory in the elections.
TVK MLA JCD Prabhakar was unanimously elected as the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker. Prabhakar, who was elected from the Thousand Lights constituency in the 2026 Assembly elections, defeated Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate Ezhlian Naganathan.
Addressing the Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin praised Chief Minister Vijay for meeting the DMK leadership and called for "political civility" in the House.
He said that the ruling government and the opposition should work together for the development of the state. Further, he also expressed concerns over Vande Mataram, the national song, being played ahead of Tamil Nadu's State song at the swearing-in ceremony.
Key Takeaways
- Udhayanidhi Stalin's comments highlight rising tensions between the DMK and BJP in Tamil Nadu politics.
- The controversy raises questions about the limits of political speech and the interpretation of 'hate speech.'
- Political civility is a critical theme, as leaders call for collaboration amidst divisive rhetoric.
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