'Sanatan Dharma' Row: Sanjay Raut Slams Udhaya's Statement, Says None Hurt Religious Sentiments

Sanjay Raut who is with the DMK in the I.N.D.I.A bloc said that no one will support statements against any religion and ministers should refrain from commenting on it.

Sanjay Raut said that MK Stalin is a respectable leader and stated that the country looks up to him. ( Image Source :PTI )

Amid a massive attack faced by Tamil Nadu’s DMK leader Udayanidhi Stalin over his remark on ‘Sanatan Dharma’, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that no one would support statements against any religion. He said that leaders should refrain from making such comments, adding that there are over 90 crore Hindus in the country along with people of various other religions and nobody should hurt other people’s religious sentiments. Both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the DMK are part of the I.N.D.I.A bloc. 

“I have heard that statement...Udayanidhi Stalin is a minister and no one will support his statement and one should refrain from making such statements... This could be DMK's view or his personal view. Around 90 crore Hindus live in this country and people of other religions also live in this country... Their religious sentiments can't be hurt,” Raut told news agency ANI.

He said that the situation in the country shouldn’t deteriorate and that the Bharatiya Janata Party should not get ammunition to attack the bloc. Raut further called Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin a respectable leader and stated that the country looks up to him. “He has joined us in a battle. So, his close ones should mind their words before making such statements”, Raut added.

In an address at a meeting of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association in Chennai, DMK leader and son of Chief Minister M K Stalin, allegedly likened 'Sanatan Dharma' to coronavirus, malaria, and dengue and said such things should be destroyed. Following this, a massive controversy erupted over his remarks. However, Udhayanidhi stuck to his statement, saying he was only speaking against the caste system. He said he would continue to speak out against caste discrimination in all religions.

On Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said that his son, in his statements, had expressed his thoughts against "inhumane principles" in caste system, reported PTI. He said that pro-BJP forces were unable to tolerate his stance against oppressive principles so they spread a false narrative, alleging that Udhayanidhi called for the genocide of people with Sanatan thoughts.  He further asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi would also join those targeting the TN minister in a statement.

"Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed certain comments about inhuman principles preached by Sanatan. He expressed his views on Sanatan principles that discriminate against Scheduled Castes, tribals and women, with no intention to offend any religion or religious beliefs," he was quoted by PTI.

"The Social Media mob nurtured by the BJP has widely circulated...falsehood in northern states. However, Minister Udhayanidhi never used the word 'genocide' in either Tamil or English. Still, lies were spread claiming so," Stalin added.