“We can’t oppose Dengue, Mosquitoes, Malaria, or Corona, we have to eradicate this that’s how we have to eradicate Sanatana. Rather opposing Sanatana it should be eradicated.”

Udhayanidhi Stalin, Sports Minister of the Government of Tamil Nadu and son of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin, made the statement on eradication of Santana Dharma.

He was speaking at a Sanatanam Abolition Conclave organized by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Forum in Chennai.

“The title of this conference has been excellently coined. You’ve named it  ‘Abolish Sanatanam Conference’ and not ‘Oppose Sanatanam Conference’, so my best wishes to that.”

“Let us take a vow to win in all the 39 Parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu and the one segment in Puducherry (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls). Let Sanatana fall, Dravidam win.” Everything should change and nothing is perpetual, Stalin added.

“Our Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) brought a law enabling people belonging to all castes to become archakas (temple priests), our Chief Minister (Stalin) has appointed people who have completed archaka training as priests in temples; this is the Dravidian model.” Udhayanidhi had said at the event.  

The idea of Sanatana Dharm is inherently regressive, dividing people on the basis of caste and gender, and is fundamentally opposed to equality and social justice, argued the minister in his speech.

Stalin stands firm on his statement

Amit Malviya, the IT cell head of BJP tweeted claiming Stalin has called for mass genocide of 80% of the population.

To which Stalin responded with saying , “I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed and marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma.”

“I never called for the genocide of people who are following Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality,” Udhayanidhi Stalin wrote in a message on X.

“Bring it on. I am ready to face any legal challenge. We will not be cowed down by such usual saffron threats.” Stalin said in a response to LRO.