Sanatana Dharma controversy; Civic leaders petition Chief Justice Chandrachud for action against Udayanidhi

NEW DELHI: Civic leaders have formally requested the Supreme Court to take action against Udayanidhi Stalin's comments regarding Sanatana Dharma. A total of 262 people including Telangana High Court Chief Justice K Sreedhar Rao and 14 retired judges, 130 bureaucrats, 20 ambassadors and 118 armed forces officers have jointly submitted a letter to Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud of the Supreme Court. This letter urges the Supreme Court to proactively consider the case.

In the letter, it is expressed that the contentious speech delivered by Udayanidhi Stalin has the potential to incite communal discord and sectarian conflicts. Furthermore, it is emphasized that this speech has deeply offended the sentiments of the general populace and those who adhere to the beliefs of Sanatana Dharma. It is also noted that Udayanidhi has not issued an apology for his inflammatory statements. The letter further highlights that Udayanidhi's remarks have severely undermined and ridiculed the principles of the rule of law. Consequently, the letter implores the Supreme Court to initiate legal proceedings against Udayanidhi.

Tamil Nadu Minister Udayanidhi Stalin made a controversial speech last Saturday. In his speech, Udayanidhi alleged that Sanatana Dharma should be abolished and accused the opposition coalition of being anti-Hindu.

Udayanidhi Stalin has responded by asserting that his comments were directed against caste discrimination and not specifically targeting the Hindu religion. He claimed that his statements encompassed all communities and accused the BJP of twisting his words for political advantage. He also questioned whether Prime Minister Modi's "Congress Mukta Bharat" campaign amounted to a call to eliminate Congress members. He criticized the "India" coalition for their silence on this matter and asked why Sonia Gandhi had not spoken out. Udayanidhi Stalin called for an apology from Congress and the opposition coalition.

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