Stalin Junior Defiant Over “Sanatana” Remark, Cites President, Mahabharata

Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin – who’s comment that Sanatana Dharma “should be eradicated” has triggered a huge political row — doubled down today with an example.

The Central government not inviting President Droupadi Murmu for the inauguration of the new parliament is an example of Sanatana caste discrimination, he said, underscoring the long-held DMK stance on the subject.

Founded on the rationalist principles of Periyar, the DMK has opposed Sanatana Dharma for decades, reaping rich political dividends. For generations a large section of people was oppressed by practitioners of Sanatana Dharma. Caste was used to deny them equality, education, entry into places of religious places.

Udhayanidhi Stalin today repeated that he was ready to face any legal action for his comments. Subramanaian Swamy has claimed on X that he has written to the Tamil Nadu Governor seeking his sanction to initiate action against Udhay.

Asked if he could give a current example of social discrimination, Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “President Murmu not being invited for the inauguration of the new parliament is the best example of current Sanatana discrimination”.

The BJP has denied the allegation.

Earlier today, Udhayanidhi Stalin had referred to discrimination with an example from Mahabharat.

“Teachers are incomparable people who always think only about the future generations. The bond between our Dravidian movement and teachers who preach virtue without asking for thumbs! It will continue forever. Happy Teacher’s Day,” read his post on X, formerly Twitter, on Teachers’ Day.

The mention of teachers asking for “thumbs” is a reference to Dronacharya, the teacher of Pandavas and Kauravas, who asked Ekalavya, a tribal boy, for his right thumb as honorarium once it became clear that he was a better archer than Arjun.

Over the weekend, Udhyanidhi Stalin triggered controversy with his remark that “Sanatana (Dharma) is like malaria and dengue and so it must be eradicated and not opposed”.

While it set off massive backlash on social media, the BJP claimed it was equivalent to “a call for genocide”. Udhayanidhi has denied the allegation and termed it fake news.

The comment also laid the Opposition Bloc INDIA open to BJP attack ahead of a series of state elections by year-end and the general election next year.