DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin and Congress's Priyank Kharge have been booked in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur for allegedly outraging the religious feelings after Stalin's remark on Sanatan Dharma stirred controversy. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader was booked for his call to eradicate Sanatan Dharma and Kharge for backing his remark, said the police on Wednesday, according to a PTI report. The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by two lawyers, Harsh Gupta and Ram Singh Lodhi who highlighted media reports on Stalin's statement alleging that the politician's comments had hurt their feelings.
The two leaders of the Opposition's I.N.D.I.A. bloc were booked under sections 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different religious groups) of the Indian Penal Code at Civil Lines Police Station in Rampur on Tuesday, the PTI report added.
On Saturday, the Tamil Nadu minister equated 'Sanatan Dharma' with “mosquitoes, dengue, fever, malaria and corona”.
Speaking at a seminar, the minister for Sports and Youth Affairs in the Tamil Nadu government said, “There are some things which we have to eradicate and can’t merely oppose. Mosquitoes, dengue, fever, malaria and corona, all these are things which we cannot oppose, we have to eradicate them. Sanatanam (Sanatan Dharma) is like this.”
Reacting to the development, Uttar Pradesh minister and BJP leader Anil Rajbhar on Wednesday said, "Our country and Modi government will not let anyone harm 'Sanatana Dharma'. Strict actions should be taken against him (Udayanidhi Stalin) and we welcome those who have registered an FIR against him."
"I con'e care, they can do what they want, my statement is very clear. It is not against any particular religion. I had stated that any religion that does not preach equality is not a religion according to me. Constitution is my religion. If UP has a problem, I do not see it to be mine. We will do whatever needs to be done," said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's son and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge.
Irked by the comments, the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders demanded an apology from I.N.D.I.A bloc and Congress while Trinamool Congress said that the Opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A does not have any connection with DMK Minister's comment.
Stalin, on the other hand, continued to remain defiant and said that he would continue to raise his voice against it.
On Monday, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh hit out at DMK leader Udhayanidhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Congress' ally DMK is insulting Sanatan Dharma by saying that it should be abolished.