Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, has been summoned by a Special Court of People’s Representatives in Bengaluru. The summons is in connection with a case filed against him over controversial remarks made during a conference on ‘Sanatana Dharma’ in September last year.
The court issued the summons following a complaint lodged by a Bengaluru local named Paramesh. Udhayanidhi Stalin is required to appear in person for the hearing scheduled on March 4.
The controversy stems from a statement made by the minister during the ‘Sanatana Abolition Conference’ last year. In a video clip that went viral, he compared ‘Sanatan Dharma’ with diseases like malaria and dengue. Stalin expressed gratitude to the conference organizers for allowing him to speak on eradicating Sanatana Dharma, stating, “There are some things which we have to eradicate and we can’t merely oppose. Sanatanam is also like this.”
The remarks sparked a massive political furore, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hindu leaders across the country condemning Stalin for his statement. Despite the backlash, Udhayanidhi Stalin refused to apologize, asserting that he was ready to face any legal challenge.
In response to the controversy, Stalin took to social media, stating, “Bring it on. I am ready to face any legal challenge. We will not be cowed down by such usual saffron threats. We, the followers of Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar, would fight forever to uphold social justice and establish an egalitarian society under the able guidance of our honorable CM.”
