Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan on Thursday came out in support of Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin over his comments on Sanatana Dharma, that has sparked a huge controversy across the country. Speaking to news agency ANI, Elangovan said Udhayanidhi was right in saying that all human beings are born equal and should be treated equally, irrespective of their class and caste, which is, however, “opposed by Santana Dharma”.
“They have taken the last line from Udhayanidhi’s speech. He explained how human beings should be treated. All men are born equal. In every man’s body, there is blood running irrespective of class and caste. Everybody should be treated equally, that’s our practice. But, this ‘Sanatana’ is opposed to it, so we have to throw, that is what he meant. Let them say that ‘Sanatana’ confirms with what he (Udayanidhi) said, If it confirms to that policy, why should we oppose that?”, said Elangovan to ANI.
#WATCH | DMK leader TKS Elangovan, says “They have taken the last line from Udhayanidhi’s speech. He explained how human beings should be treated. All men are born equal. In every man’s body, there is blood running irrespective of class and caste. Everybody should be treated… pic.twitter.com/eP64AywQ8d
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2023
Tamil Nadu minister and son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin during an event on Saturday had compared Sanatana Dharma to a disease and said it “should be eradicated”.
His comments sparked widespread backlash from opposition parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister and son of All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyank Kharge while speaking to reporters on Thursday said his comments on Sanatana Dharma has been misunderstood.
“My statement was not against any religion. I said that any religion that discriminates between human beings is not a religion. I follow the Constitution, my religion is the Constitution. If they want to file an FIR against me or they want to arrest me, it is up to the individuals, I really don’t care. These people do not understand Kannada, Hindi or English. All I have said is that the Consitution is my religion. Does BJP have a problem with it? Let them file as many FIRs as they want, they are free to do so,” Kharge was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says “My statement was not against any religion. I said that any religion that discriminates between human beings is not a religion. I follow the Constitution, my religion is the Constitution. If they want to file an FIR… pic.twitter.com/z7PBzQukyR
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2023
Kharge, in support of Udhayanidhi had said any religion that does not ensure the dignity of a human being is like a disease. After his statement an FIR was filed against him in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur.