udhayanidhi stalin sanatan Archives - Lokmarg

SC Tags Fresh Plea With Pending Case Against Udayanidhi

By LokMarg 27th September 2023

The Supreme Court on Wednesday tagged a plea of a Delhi based lawyer seeking an FIR against Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and MP A Raja for their remarks calling for the eradication of ‘Sanatan Dharma’, along with similar pending plea.

A bench headed by Justice Aniruddha Bose did not issue notice on the plea but tagged it along with a similar plea filed by a Chennai-based lawyer in which the apex court last week issued notice.

Additional Advocate General of the Tamil Nadu government opposed the plea saying these petitions are ‘publicity interest litigations’.

There are 40 writ petitions filed across the country in different High Courts for publicity, which makes it incredibly difficult for the State.

“Everyone filing PILs for publicity, they will go to the media and circulate these,” the bench said.

The bench said it will not issue notice on the plea and tag it along with the pending petition. “We have not issued notice. Let it be tagged. We will see on that day,” the bench said.

The apex court was hearing an application filed by advocate Vineet Jindal also seeking contempt of court action against Delhi and Chennai police for not registering suo motu FIR for hate speech in terms of the Supreme Court’s earlier order.

The application was filed in an already pending case of hate speech and sought registration of an FIR against Stalin and Rajya Sabha MP A Raja for their act of outraging religious feelings, insulting the followers of the Hindu religion and instigating enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion.

The lawyer said he is a follower of Sanatan Dharma and he watched a video statement of Stalin and its translation on social media and news reports in which Stalin spoke at an event called ‘Sanatan Abolition Conference’.

“The applicant, being a Hindu and Sanatan Dharma follower, his religious sentiments are hurt by statements made by Udhayanidhi Stalin calling for eradicating Sanatan Dharma and further comparing Sanatan with mosquitoes, dengue, corona, and malaria. His words show his hate towards Sanatan Dharma. He is an MLA and Minister in the Tamil Nadu government and has taken an oath to work as per the constitution of our country and must respect all the regions but he intentionally made a provocative and defamatory statement for the Sanatan Dharma with the intent to promote enmity between groups on the grounds of religion,” the application stated.

Aggrieved by the hate speech made by Stalin, the lawyer made a complaint to Delhi police for registration of FIR under sections 153A & B, 295A, 298 and 505 but the police are yet to register the FIR. The Supreme Court in its order dated April 28 directing all States and Union Territories (UT) to register suo motu FIRs in hate speech offences without any complaint being filed.

“Action be taken irrespective of the religion of the maker of the speech so that the secular character of India as envisaged by the Preamble is preserved,” the application added.

On September 5, 262 eminent citizens including former High Court judges and bureaucrats wrote to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud urging him to take note of Stalin’s hate speech calling for the eradication of ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

They wrote a letter to the CJI stating that the Supreme Court had directed the governments and police authorities to take suo motu action in hate speech cases without waiting for the lodging of formal complaints.

On September 2, while likening Sanatan Dharma to the coronavirus, malaria, and dengue, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that such things should not be opposed but destroyed.

Remarks of DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin had triggered a massive political controversy across the country. (ANI)

Sanatan Dharma Row: Udhayanidhi Says No SC Summons Received

By LokMarg 23rd September 2023

Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday said that he has not received any notice from the Supreme Court asking for his explanation for his Sanatan Dharma remarks which triggered a political storm in the country.

“I saw about the Supreme Court order in the media. There is still no notice received from the Supreme Court asking for an explanation,” Stalin told reporters here.

The Supreme Court on Friday had issued notice to him for his remarks calling for the eradication of ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi had also issued notice to MP A Raja, MP Thol Thirumavalavan, MP Thiru Su Venkatesan, Tamil Nadu DGP, Greater Chennai Police Commissioner, Union Home Ministry, Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department PK Sekar Babu, Chairman of Tamil Nadu State Minorities Commission Peter Alphonse and others.

The apex court which was initially reluctant to entertain the plea and asked the petitioner to approach the High Court, agreed to hear the case.

The bench asked about the context of the remarks, the advocate appearing for Chennai-based lawyer B Jagannath who filed the plea, said, “They have called for eradication of a faith, in an institution.”

The Counsel argued that if such a comment was made by an individual it would be understood, but the State is unleashing its machinery.

He told the bench that circulars have been given asking students to speak against it.

“A constitutional functionary speaking like this is impermissible. Second, students should not be forced to speak out against so and so Dharma,” the counsel said.

The plea filed through advocate Balaji Gopalan sought intervention to not allow Udhayanidhi Stalin and others to make further remarks on Sanatana Dharma.

It also sought to declare the participation of Tamil Nadu Ministers in the meeting — Sanatana Dharma Eradication conference — held on September 2, as unconstitutional.

The petition further sought direction from the respondents — Stalin, Peter Alphonse, A Raja Thol Thirumavalavan and their followers — not to make any further remarks against Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism.

The petitioner urged the DGP to submit a report as to how the conference was given police permission and why no action was taken against the perpetrators and the organisation responsible for the event.

The plea sought directions from the Home Secretary and the CBI Director to immediately direct an investigation and enquiry into the background of holding such events, including the sources pertaining to who is responsible for the contribution of the amount to such organisations.

It also sought directions from the Tamil Nadu government’s Higher Education Department, asking them not to hold any events on ‘Sanatana Dharma’ in secondary schools.

The remarks of DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin triggered a massive political controversy across the country.

Free Speech Cannot Be Hate Speech: Madras HC Judge

By LokMarg 16th September 2023

Amid the debate and political row over DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments, the Madras High Court has said that Sanatana Dharma is a set of ‘eternal duties’ which can be gathered from multiple sources relating to Hinduism or those practising the Hindu way of life and includes “the duty to the nation, duty to the King, King’s duty to his people, duty to one’s parents and Gurus, care for the poor, and whole lot of other duties”.

Justice N. Seshasayee said in his order on September 15 that the court is conscious of “the very vociferous, and at time noisy debates on pro and anti Sanatana Dharma” and the court could not help pondering over with genuine concern for what is going around.

The court also said that when free speech is exercised in matters pertaining to religion, it is necessary for one to ensure that no one is injured and “free speech cannot be hate speech”.

“Somewhere, an idea appears to have gained ground that Sanadhana Dharma is all about, and only about, promoting casteism and untouchability. Untouchability in a country of equal citizens, cannot be tolerated, and even if it is seen as permitted somewhere within the principles of ‘Sanathana dharma’, it still cannot have a space to stay, since Article 17 of the Constitution has declared that untouchability has been abolished. It is part of the fundamental right,” the court said.

“And, under Art. 51A(a), it is the fundamental duty of every citizen to, ‘abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions..’. Therefore, untouchability, either within or outside Sanatana Dharma can no longer be Constitutional, though sadly it still exits,” it added.

The court referred to the arguments on behalf of the petitioner Elangovan and said he had submitted with considerable force that nowhere Sanatana Dharma either approves or promotes untouchability, and it only insists the practitioners of Hinduism to treat all equally.

“ ‘As religious practices move with time, some bad or evil practices may un-noticingly creep into it. They are the weeds required to be removed. But why should the crop be chopped?’ – This, in short the essence of the submissions of the learned counsel,” the court noted.

The court was hearing a petition challenging a circular issued by a local government college asking girl students to share their thoughts on the topic ‘Opposition to Sanadhana’ on the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK founder CN Annadurai.

The court disposed of the plea after noting that the circular had already been withdrawn by the college.

“This Court is conscious to the very vociferous, and at time noisy debates on pro and anti Sanathana Dharma. It has also broadly understood Sanathana Dharama as a set of ‘eternal duties’, and that it cannot be traced to one specific literature, but has to be gathered from multiple sources which, either relate to Hinduism, or which those who practice the Hindu way of life, have come to accept,” the court said.

“It includes the duty to the nation, duty to the King, King’s duty to his people, duty to one’s parents and Gurus, care for the poor, and whole lot of other duties. If the topic chosen by the impugned circular is now tested on the plane of these duties, it would then mean that all these duties are liable to be destroyed. Should not a citizen love his country? Is he not under a duty to serve his nation? Should not the parents be cared? With genuine concern for what is going round, this Court could not help pondering over it,” the order said.

The court said it is conscious that every citizen has a fundamental right to free speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

“While right to free speech is inalienable, it is also important to underscore that one is adequately informed, as it adds value to what is spoken. It should not be forgotten that the Constitutional framers have very consciously has not made right to free speech as an absolute right. They have restricted it with Article 19(2),” the order said.

It said Article 25 has granted all citizens the fundamental right to practice any religion.

“Every religion is founded on faith, and faith by nature accommodates irrationality. Therefore, when free speech is exercised in matters pertaining to religion, it is necessary for one to ensure that no one is injured,” the court said.

“In other words free speech cannot be hate speech, as the Hon’ble Supreme Court has cautioned. The users of free speech must not ignore to factor these aspects while exercising their right. If this is ignored, the course of any debate will get derailed, and the objective behind it will lose significance,” it added.

The court said it would be appreciable, if free speech encourages dispassionate, and healthy public debates, and helps society to move forward.

“How free speech is seen exercised these days? If the free speech made through the social media is taken as a basis, anyone who has little to do with science, or rocket, or space, will be lecturing on rocket science. While this is also accommodated within the right to free speech, yet it may he helpful to gain some attention, and may not take it beyond.

“It would be appreciable, if free speech encourages dispassionate, and healthy public debates, and help the society to move forward, along the lines which the Constitution envisages. At the end of the day, every citizen traces his existence to the Constitution, and hence it is his duty to abide by its values, its ethos, and to hold an uncompromising abidance to its spirits. This should not be forgotten. Hope it prevails,” the order said. (ANI)

Anti-Hindu Coordination Committee, Patra Slams INDIA Bloc

By LokMarg 13th September 2023

Amid a row over Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Wednesday accused the INDIA alliance of conspiring to abolish “Hinduism”.

Launching a sharp attack on the INDIA alliance, Patra referred to the 14-member coordination committee which is set to meet at Sharad Pawar’s residence this evening as the “Anti-Hindu Coordination Committee” (AHCC).

“Today Anti-Hindu Coordination Committee (AHCC) meeting has been called at Sharad Pawar’s home. They will also discuss seat sharing. But before the coordination, the non-coordination and non-cooperation has started,” Patra said.

“This is not a meeting of campaign or seat sharing… Their only aim is to abolish Hinduism… The meeting is on the same topic… They called Hinduism dengue and malaria, corona, leprosy, and AIDS. They compare Hinduism with such diseases. They called it a world menace,” Patra said,” he added.

Countering Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin over a remark on Sanatana, the BJP leader said that if such words were used against any other religion, they would have reached the United Nations.

“If such words were used against any other religion, they would have reached the United Nations with a complaint that India is intolerant. This is not by mistake, it is a well-designed statement… This is a design under which several years ago they said that Lord Ram is imaginary and nonexistent,” BJP leader said.

Patra recounted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement that they don’t fear from SIMI but from Hindus.

“When Rahul Gandhi said, that we don’t have risk from SIMI but from Hindus, this was not a disaster in statement, it is a well-understood statement,” he added.

Patra also attacked former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s Godhra remarks and questioned the Aam Aadmi Party’s support for the same and said that, “The 26 parties are one… it is clear from Uddhav Thackeray’s statement that another Godhra incident may happen… Aam Aadmi Party is supporting it saying that Uddhav Thackeray is a senior leader, he might be right… Samajwadi Party says Shriramcharitmanas should not be read… This morning SP said that the Ram Mandir should not be made… RJD leader says that the people applying ‘Tilak’ are dangerous to the nation.”

The first meeting of the Coordination Committee of the INDIA alliance, scheduled to be held on Wednesday in the national capital will discuss the Special Session of Parliament among other things.

Opposition’s Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in its third meeting in Mumbai on September 1 announced a 14-member coordination committee. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Udhayanidhi Claims BJP Twisting His Statement On Sanatan Dharma

By LokMarg 7th September 2023

Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday issued a letter clarifying his statements on ‘Sanatan Dharma’ and questioned the BJP leaders for twisting his speech as ‘inciting genocide’ and said that they are using it as a weapon to protect themselves.

Stalin alleged that the BJP-led central government was twisting his speech delivered on September 2, and accused the centre for doing ‘nothing’ in the last nine years of their governance.

“For the last 9 years, all your (BJP) promises are empty promises. What have you exactly done for our welfare?” is a question currently being raised in unison by the entire country against an unarmed, fascist BJP government,” he said in his letter.

“It is in this background that the BJP leaders have twisted my speech at the TNPWAA conference as ‘inciting genocide’. They consider it a weapon to protect themselves. What is surprising is the Ministers of the Union government like Thiru. Amit Shah and Chief Minister of states ruled by the BJP demanding action against me based on fake news,” he added.

“I am one of the political heirs of Perarignar Anna, the founder of the DMK. Everyone knows that we are not enemies of any religion,” he said in his letter.

Udhyanidhi condemned the statements of Ayodhya Seer Paramhans Acharya for announcing a bounty of 10 crores for beheading his head and said that the saints in this era are in need of advertisement.

“In this era, saints are in need of a lot of advertisements. One such saint has announced a bounty of 10 crores for my head. I am surprised that saint has 10 crores. Many have given police and judicial complaints against me,” he said.

Further, he requested the DMK cadres to not get involved in work that is a waste of time such as burning the effigy of the saint.

“I heard DMK cadres in various places giving complaints against the saint who announced a bounty for my head and also protesting against that Saint by burning the effigy of the saint. I request cadres to avoid such activities. We have a lot of work to do for the benefit of people. With the guidance of the DMK President and by getting advice from the DMK headship and with the help of the legal department I will face all the cases against legally,” he said.

Meanwhile a delegation of Tamil Nadu BJP leaders led by state chief K Annamalai met Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and submitted a petition to him calling for cases to registered against Stalin junior for alleged hate speech.

Speaking to reporters BJP leader Karu Nagarajan said ” If Udhayanidhi Stalin says he is to eradicate Sanatanam it means that he is calling for eradicating Hinduism. We gave the petition to the Governor requesting to sack Udhayanidhi Stalin from the cabinet for his remarks on Sanatanam. We also requested Governor R N Ravi to sack HR & CE Minister Sekar Babu as he also participated in the same program. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Ayodhya Seer Paramhans Reiterates Death Threat Against Udhayanidhi

By LokMarg 5th September 2023

Reiterating the death warning against Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin over his “eradicate Sanatan Dharma” remark, Ayodhya Seer Paramhans Acharya on Tuesday said that “if required, I myself will behead MK Stalin’s son, and I will also increase the bounty of Rs 10 crore if that is not enough for beheading him.”

“I would like to tell him to first read the history of Sanatan Dharma and then comment against it. He should apologise for whatever he has said against our Sanatan Dharma, and if he does not apologise, no matter if he is the son of a chief minister, he will get the punishment. If his head doesn’t get beheaded, I will increase the bounty; if at all required, I will myself behead him, Paramhans Acharya said, adding, “Whatever development has taken place in the country is because of ‘Sanatana Dharma’. He should apologise for his statement. He has hurt the sentiments of 100 crore people in the country.”

On Monday, Paramhans Acharya announced a reward of Rs 10 crore for beheading the DMK leader over his remarks against ‘Sanatan Dharma. “I will pay a Rs 10 crore cash reward to anyone who beheads Stalin and brings his head to me,” he said.

Responding to Paramhans Acharya’s statement, Udhayanidhi said that he is not afraid of such statements and that he is on the path of his grandfather Karunanidhi, who had also received similar death threats. He further went on to say that after making that remark at the conference, he already knew a lot of reactions would come from people, and now it is happening.

“You all know what has been happening for the last two days in Tamil Nadu. It’s that one word, all speaking mostly, Sanatan Dharma, not only in Tamil Nadu but all over India, people are talking about me.” Udhayandhi, said while speaking to the media. “In Chennai, the day before yesterday, a conference was held that was named the Sanatan Dharma Eradication Conference. What I said in it is, that Sanatan Dharma should be eradicated like we eradicate mosquitoes, malaria, dengue, cholera, and COVID. In that stage itself, I said that what I said now would make many people’s stomachs burn. What I said has been done.”

“From Amit Shah to Nadda, all are speaking about Udayanidhi now. A complaint has been registered to arrest me all over India. Today a saint has set a prize for my head. He has said that whoever chops off Udayanidhi’s head will be rewarded with 10 crore rupees. Whoever says this is a saint I am asking, What’s the affection for you on my head? You are a saint; how can you have 1 crore rupees? Are you a real saint or a duplicate saint? I have doubts about you. Why 10 crore to chop my head? If you give me 10 rupees for a comb, I myself can comb my hair,” he said.

“The same situation happened to Karunanidhi too, where a saint said before that if someone chops off Karunanidhi’s head, he will be rewarded one crore rupees. Karunanidhi said that even if you give 100 crores, I can’t even comb my hair. I am on the path of Karunanidhi and Ambedkar. Periyar, Anbazhagan, and our leader (Stalin) who struggles till now to eradicate Sanatan Dharma, and till that, the DMK will struggle,” he added.

Udhayanidhi’s statement at the ‘Sanatana Abolition Conference’ has sparked massive outrage across the nation. Several leaders and people have strongly criticised him for making such a statement and have even asked for an apology from the INDIA bloc as DMK part is a member of the INDIA alliance. Meanwhile, Uddhayanidhi on Monday said that he is ready to say whatever he has said about Santan Dharma again and again. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Shah Flays Stalin’s Son’s Remarks On ‘Sanatana Dharma’ In Rajasthan

By LokMarg 3rd September 2023

Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused leaders of DMK and their INDIA alliance partner Congress of talking about ending “Sanatana Dharma”, while hitting out at Rahul Gandhi for “comparing Hindu organisations with proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba”.

Hitting back at the DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin over his remark that ‘Sanatan Dharma’ should be eradicated and not merely opposed, Shah said, “For the last two days, the INDIA alliance has been insulting ‘Sanatana Dharma’. Leaders of DMK and Congress are talking about ending ‘Sanatana Dharma’ just for vote bank politics. This is not the first time they have insulted our ‘Sanatana Dharma”.

Shah addressed a gathering in poll-bound Rajasthan after flagging off the party’s second Parivartan Yatra.

Lashing out at the Opposition, he recalled former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also said that the first right on the budget is of the minorities, “but we say that the first right is for the poor, tribals, Dalits and backwards”.

“Today, the Congress party says that if Modi ji will win, Sanatana will rule. Rahul Gandhi said that the Hindu organisations are more dangerous than Lashkar-e-Taiba”.

The top BJP leader took a dig at Rahul Gandhi for “comparing Hindu organisations with Lashkar-e-Taiba”.

Addressing a conference in Chennai on Saturday, the minister for Sports and Youth Affairs in the Tamil Nadu government railed against Sanatan Dharma, saying, “Few things cannot be opposed, they should only be abolished. We can’t oppose Dengue, mosquitoes, Malaria, or Corona, we have to eradicate them. In the same way, we have to eradicate Sanatana (Sanatan Dharma). Rather than merely opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated.”

In a scathing retort to the DMK leader over his remarks, Annamalai took to his official handle on X to post, “The only resolve that the Gopalapuram Family has is to accumulate wealth beyond the State GDP. Thiru @Udhaystalin, you, your father, or his or your idealogue have a bought-out idea from Christian missionaries & the idea of those missionaries was to cultivate * like you to parrot their malicious ideology.” (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Cong Distances Itself From Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Sanatan ant

By LokMarg 3rd September 2023

Seeking to steer the Congress away from the statement of DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, equating Sanatan Dharma with “mosquitoes, dengue, malaria and corona”, the party’s Maharashtra chief Nana Patole on Sunday said the partner in the DMK-led ruling coalition in Tamil Nadu doesn’t believe in hurting any religious sentiments.

Addressing a conference in Chennai on Saturday, Udhayanidhi, the minister for Sports and Youth Affairs in the Tamil Nadu government, railed against Sanatan Dharma, saying, “Few things cannot be opposed, they should only be abolished. We can’t oppose Dengue, mosquitoes, Malaria, or Corona, we have to eradicate them. In the same way, we have to eradicate Sanatana (Sanatan Dharma). Rather than merely opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated.”

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Patole invoked Dalit icon BR Ambedkar’s ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava’ (all religions are the same) remark, saying, “Our stand is clear. The Congress neither comments nor believes in hurting anyone’s religious sentiments.”

“We can’t take the onus for someone else’s statement. But our position has been clearly articulated,” the Congress leader added.

Significantly, the Congress and the DMK are also partners in the Opposition alliance — Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

In a scathing retort to the DMK leader over his remarks, the BJP’s state chief K Annamalai took to his official handle on X to post, “The only resolve that the Gopalapuram Family has is to accumulate wealth beyond the State GDP. Thiru @Udhaystalin, you, your father, or his or your idealogue have a bought-out idea from Christian missionaries & the idea of those missionaries was to cultivate * like you to parrot their malicious ideology.”

Taking a further swipe at Udhayanidhi, he posted, “Tamil Nadu is a land of spiritualism. The best you can do is to hold a Mic in an event like this & rant out your frustration!”

“Echoing his sentiments, the BJP’s IT cell head, Amit Malviya, said the DMK minister was calling for “genocide of 80 per cent of the population of Bharat”.

“Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamilnadu CM MK Stalin, and a minister in the DMK Govt has linked Sanatana Dharma to malaria and dengue… He is of the opinion that it must be eradicated and not merely opposed. In short, he is calling for genocide of 80% population of Bharat, who follow Sanatan Dharma,” Malviya posted on X.

Also linking the minister’s remarks to the third meeting of the Opposition alliance in Mumbai, Malviya said the partners in the bloc should clarify if this was the refrain they agreed to at the huddle.”(The) DMK is a prominent member of the Opposition block and a long-standing ally of the Congress. Is this what was agreed in the Mumbai meet?” the BJP leader added. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/