Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu’s minister and the son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, sparked controversy on Saturday when he stated that Sanatana Dharma is incompatible with the concept of social justice and should be “eliminated.” Udhayanidhi drew parallels between Sanatana Dharma and diseases like dengue and malaria, drawing sharp criticism from BJP leaders. The BJP is using the statement to whip up the sentiments of the majority community in the country. The statement is avoidable at this juncture. Criticism of any religion can be done without being disrespectful, and by using better words.
Also, it gives ammunition to the BJP to target opposition alliances and portray them as anti-Hindu. While in the southern states it may not have any impact, in the Hindi heartland this will definitely give BJP an edge. The voters in the Hindi heartland can be easily polarised based on their religion. The Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu is quite different from the politics of northern India. Since the time of Periyar, the majority of Tamil politicians belonging to various Dravidian parties have always been very much against the caste system. Many of them have professed to be atheists and have always spoken against religions. Those who follow Dravidian politics are not surprised by what Udhayanidhi Stalin stated.