SC Lawyer Seeks FIR from Delhi Police Over Udhayanidhi Stalin's 'Sanatan Dharma' Remark

Vineet Jindal, a practicing lawyer, expressed distress over Stalin’s statements comparing it to diseases like malaria.

A Supreme Court lawyer has lodged a formal complaint with the Delhi Police against Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Sports Minister of the Tamil Nadu Government and the son of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, following a controversial statement made by Stalin on Saturday regarding ‘Santana Dharma.’ In the complaint filed by Vineet Jindal, a practicing lawyer, it is alleged that Udhayanidhi Maran, during a speech, made provocative, inflammatory, derogatory, and inciting remarks against Sanatan Dharam.

Expressing his distress as a Hindu and a follower of Sanatan Dharma, Jindal stated, “My religious sentiments are hurt by statements made by Udhayanidhi Stalin, who called for eradicating Sanatan Dharma and compared it to mosquitoes, dengue, corona, and malaria.”

The complainant further asserted that Udhayanidhi Maran’s words demonstrate his hostility towards Sanatan Dharma. As an MLA and Minister in the Karnataka Government, he is expected to uphold the constitution of the country and respect all religions. However, his deliberate and defamatory statement against Sanatan Dharma aims to incite enmity between religious groups.

The complaint contends that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s use of phrases like “eradication of Santana Dharma” and likening Dharma to mosquitoes, dengue, corona, and malaria, with statements such as “these things which we cannot oppose, we have to eradicate them. Sanatanam is also like this. Eradication and not opposing Sanatanam has to be our first task,” indicates an intention to incite and promote violence against followers of Hindu dharma.

The complainant further points out that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s statements potentially violate sections 153A and B, 295A, 298, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to offenses against communal harmony and promoting enmity on religious grounds. These offenses are considered serious and cognizable under Indian law.

According to the complainant, Udhayanidhi Stalin made these remarks while addressing an event where he called for a ‘Sanatana Abolition Conference.’ During his speech, Stalin stated, “There are some things that we have to eradicate and we can’t merely oppose. Mosquitoes, dengue, corona, and malaria are things that we cannot oppose, we have to eradicate them. Sanatanam is also like this. Eradication and not opposing Sanatanam has to be our first task.” He also asserted that Sanatana Dharma was opposed to both equality and social justice.

The complaint urges the authorities to take appropriate action against Udhayanidhi Stalin for his alleged offenses.