“Unfair for the PM to make comments without knowing what Minister Udhayanidhi spoke” : CM MK Stalin Said!

Unfair for the Hon’ble Prime Minister to make comments without knowing what Hon’ble Minister Thiru. Udhayanidhi spoke.

- DMK President and Chief Minister Thiru. M.K. Stalin

While speaking at a Sanatan Eradication Conference in Chennai, organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association, Hon’ble Tamil Nadu Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Thiru. 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.

Many leaders in our Indian subcontinent, such as Thanthai Periyar, Mahatma Phule, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Narayana Guru, Vallalaar, and Vaikuntar, have spoken out against regressive Varnasrama - Manuvad - Sanatan ideologies, which justify discrimination based on one's birth and the oppression of women. As an extension of that lineage, ideological arguments continue to resonate all over India against the justification of denying equal rights to the oppressed and women and exploiting them. Social scientists are well aware of this.

Even as we launch Chandrayaan to the Moon, some people continue to propagate caste discrimination, emphasizing social stratification based on Varnashrama principles and citing sastras and other ancient texts to support their sectarian claims. Notably, a Governor has openly supported child marriage, and claimed his own marriage was a child marriage. If we initiate legal action against those who conducted child marriages, he defends them and lays stumbling blocks for the investigation.

Some individuals still denigrate women on spiritual platforms, arguing that women should not work, widowed women should not remarry, and there are no rituals or officiating chants for remarriage. They use the term "Sanatan" to perpetuate the oppression of women, who make up more than half of humankind. Hon’ble Minister Udhayanidhi spoke out only against such oppressive ideologies and called to eradicate the practices based on those ideologies.

Pro-BJP forces, unable to tolerate his stance against oppressive principles, have spread a false narrative, alleging that "Udhayanidhi called for the genocide of people with Sanatan thoughts." The Social Media mob nurtured by the BJP has widely circulated this falsehood in northern states. However, Hon’ble Minister Udhayanidhi never used the word 'genocide' in either Tamil or English. Still, lies were spread claiming so.

If the troll army of BJP spreads these lies, the responsible Union Ministers and State Chief Ministers who belong to BJP should have cared to check what Mr. Udhayanidhi has actually spoken before commenting on him. Instead, despite Hon’ble Minister Udhayanidhi’s clear denial, Union Ministers, including Hon’ble Home Minister Amit Shah and Hon’ble Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and many others, shared the same lie and condemned Udhayanidhi. Even after Udhayanidhi's denial, these Union Ministers did not retract their statements.

A self-proclaimed seer from Uttar Pradesh burnt Hon’ble Minister Udhayanidhi’s photo and even offered a bounty on his head. Did the Uttar Pradesh Government take any action against him? Instead, they filed cases against Udhayanidhi. In these circumstances, it is disheartening to hear from the national media that the Hon’ble Prime Minister mentioned that Udhayanidhi's remarks need a proper response during a meeting of his council of ministers. The Hon’ble Prime Minister has access to all the resources to verify any claim or report. So, is the Hon’ble Prime Minister speaking unaware of the lies spread about Udhayanidhi, or does he do so knowingly?

Just a few weeks ago, the Hon’ble Prime Minister spoke in Parliament without knowing the truth about a purported video clip of Tamil Nadu Minister E.V. Velu. Given these instances, it raises questions about whether the Prime Minister, who has failed to fulfil any of his promises, is attempting to divert attention by invoking Sanatan. Neither the Prime Minister nor his Ministers have replied on issues like Manipur or the 7.50 lakh crore worth irregularities highlighted in the CAG report. But they convened the cabinet on Sanatan. Can these leaders truly protect the backward castes, Scheduled Castes, Tribal people, and uplift women?

This is why even Mr. Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, yesterday wrote, "Sanatan Dharma believes in untouchability. How can we accept Sanatan Dharma?". Does the Hon’ble Prime Minister have an answer?

The INDIA alliance, formed by parties opposed to the BJP, seems to have rattled the Prime Minister. He is proposing 'One Nation – One Election' out of fear. It is evident that the BJP is not genuinely concerned about the discriminatory practices in Sanatan but rather desperate to create divisions within the opposition alliance. It doesn't take a political genius to recognise this as a political gimmick.

Even the chief of RSS, Mohan Bhagwat, has said that, 'we kept our own fellow human beings behind in the social system. We did not care for them, and this continued for almost 2,000 years. Until we provide them equality, some special remedies have to be done. Reservations are one of them. Reservations should continue until there is such discrimination.' If the BJP needs any further explanation regarding what Minister Udhayanidhi spoke, they should consult Mr. Mohan Bhagwat.

Leaders with extensive experience and an unwavering commitment to the country will avoid engaging in BJP’s divisive politics for political gain. Instead, they will intensify efforts to protect our country from the BJP.

As far as the DMK is concerned, our ideals and goals are transparent and clear. We operate under the motto of "One clan, One god" and "Let’s find the God in the happiness of the poor." Our movement aims to uplift the Backward, Most Backward, Scheduled, and Tribal castes, minorities, women, and the poor. That's why the people of Tamil Nadu have entrusted us with the responsibility of ruling the state for the sixth time.

We have ensured that individuals of all castes can become temple priests in Tamil Nadu. Ours was the first state that granted equal property rights to women. The DMK provided to women what was denied by Sanatan principles. We respect every individual's feelings and strive to make them self-respecting citizens.

Our movement ensures a peaceful life for everyone, regardless of their race, language, or caste. We have promoted our ideology through enlightenment, eschewing violent means to achieve our goals. If the BJP believes they can tarnish the reputation of a longstanding party like the DMK, they will find themselves sinking in that quicksand