Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has refused to apologize for his remarks on Sanatana Dharma, despite facing multiple legal cases across India. He reaffirmed his position, stating, “They asked me to apologize, but I stand by what I said. I’m the grandson of Kalaignar and will not apologize. I’ll face all the cases.”
The controversy began in September 2023 when Udhayanidhi compared “Sanatana Dharma” to diseases like dengue and malaria, suggesting it should be “eradicated” for promoting inequality and injustice. His statements, made during a ‘Sanatana Abolition Conference,’ sparked protests from the BJP and Hindu organizations, leading to legal actions against him.
In addition to addressing the Sanatana Dharma controversy, Udhayanidhi voiced concerns over the imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu. He pointed out that a recent Doordarshan Tamil program removed words from the Tamil Thaai Vaazthu (the state anthem), calling it part of an attempt to introduce Hindi into the state. He also criticized the use of the new education policy to promote Hindi, urging Tamil parents to give their children Tamil names to preserve the language and culture.
Udhayanidhi’s promotion to Deputy Chief Minister on September 30, 2024, faced delays due to the ongoing controversy. Despite the backlash, he continues to stand by his remarks and raises issues important to Tamil identity and culture.
