'Sanatan Dharma' Row: BJP Demands Apology From I.N.D.I.A Bloc, Udhayanidhi Vows To Continue 'Speaking Out'

Sanatan Dharma Row: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that she respects Sanatan Dharma and no one should be involved in any matter that would hurt any section.

Udhayanidhi said that Sanatan enslaved women and it even encouraged the practice of Sati wherein the wives get into the funeral pyre of their deceased husband.

Source : PTI

Sanatan Dharma Row: The national uproar after a remark made by Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin about Sanatan Dharma only grew more intense on Monday. The BJP 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 on Monday. Udhayanidhi 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. 

"Allies of I.N.D.I.A coalition has kept silent on this. Why is Gehlot ji silent and Sonia ji silent? Congress and I.N.D.I.A should apologize," he said, as per ANI. 

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that DMK and Congress were insulting Sanatan Dharma for vote bank politics. 

However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said INDIA does not have any link with the comment made by Udhayanidhi Stalin. She said that no one should comment on anything that can hurt the religious sentiments of the people. 

She said, "I have great regard for the people of Tamil Nadu but my humble request to them is that every religion has its separate sentiments. India is a secular, democratic country at the same time unity in diversity is our origin."

As a result, she said that she respects Sanatan Dharma and no one should be involved in any matter that would hurt any section.

RJD leader Manoj Jha said, “Main samajhta hoon ki kabhi-kabhi hum logo ko prateek muhavaro ke andar jaakar ke sochna hoga...(I understand that sometimes we need to delve into symbolic expressions).”, as reported by Hindustan Times. 

Sanatan Dharma Row: Udhayanidhi Remains Unfazed

Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday said that he would talk again and again on the issue and he was unfazed by the threats to his life over the matter. He, as per PTI, said, "I told that day itself that I am going to talk about the issue which is going to irritate many and that is what has happened. Women were confined indoors but they have come out. They said women cannot get education, only Dravidam (the DMK's ideology) gave them education. Even the breakfast scheme (in Tamil Nadu) is to ensure more children, especially girls, get education."

Udhayanidhi said that Sanatan enslaved women and it even encouraged the practice of Sati wherein the wives get into the funeral pyre of their deceased husband. He claimed that these are all Sanatan practices that he pitched to eradicate.