New Delhi: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday strongly condemned remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly regarding Sanatan Dharma, calling the statement “regrettable” and demanding that the observations be removed from the record of Assembly proceedings.
In a press statement issued through the VHP’s official X handle, the organisation’s International President Alok Kumar said, “Can they muster the courage to make such a statement against any other religion? Continuously insulting Sanatan Hinduism and its beliefs is contrary to democratic and constitutional values. This statement by the Leader of the Opposition should be immediately removed from the Assembly proceedings.”
Alok Kumar further alleged that political parties and leaders who benefit from Hindu traditions and temples were themselves targeting Sanatan Dharma.
“It is an extremely ironic situation that those families and political parties who themselves directly or indirectly benefit from Sanatan traditions, temples, and Hindu society are the very ones talking about eradicating Sanatan,” the statement said.
Referring to temple revenues in Tamil Nadu, Kumar said, “The Tamil Nadu government receives substantial revenue from the state’s renowned temples and religious sites associated with Sanatan traditions, yet displaying an anti-Sanatan mindset is akin to digging a hole in the very plate from which one eats.”
The VHP leader also sought clarification from the newly-appointed Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C. Vijay, over the government’s stand on the issue.
“Mr. Alok Kumar said that the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu should also clarify his position on this matter—whether his government stands in favour of respecting Sanatan traditions and Hindu beliefs, or whether it supports such divisive and malicious anti-Hindu statements,” the release stated.
Demanding stricter action, Kumar said such “deeply objectionable and divisive statements” should be immediately removed from the Assembly records and measures should be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The VHP president further asserted that “Sanatan Hinduism is the cultural soul of Tamil Nadu as well as the entire India,” adding that “History bears witness that numerous ideologies attempting to eradicate Sanatan have themselves perished, but Sanatan continues to guide society today with the same strength, faith, and expansiveness—and it will do so in the future as well.”
The statement was issued by VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal.
The controversy surrounding Sanatan Dharma has once again returned to Tamil Nadu’s political discourse, with Udhayanidhi Stalin reigniting the debate through his remarks in the Assembly. His comments advocating the “eradication of Sanatan” triggered sharp reactions from multiple quarters. However, Chief Minister Vijay, who was present in the House during the remarks, did not publicly respond to the controversy.
(IANS)
