Sanatan Dharma Remark Row: Shiv Sena (UBT) Sanjay Raut Criticizes Udhayanidhi’s Statement

Expressing disapproval of the remarks made by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding ‘Sanatan Dharma,’ Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has asserted that it is inappropriate to incite the ire of the entire nation, and no one concurs with his statements.

Udhayanidhi Stalin is the son of DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, and his party is a component of the opposition INDIA alliance.

Raut mentioned that while a particular region in South India may hold differing views on religion, it should refrain from making such sentiments public.

He stated, “It is not right to attract the anger of the entire country by making such remarks. No one agrees with the remarks made by Udhayanidhi on Sanatan Dharma. Even if such views are personal, they should keep it to themselves.” Raut also added, “He may have a personal view, and it could be part of the Dravidian culture.”

Earlier this week, Udhayanidhi had equated Sanatana Dharma to diseases like malaria and dengue. Seizing upon this, the BJP has been targeting the INDIA alliance, a coalition of 28 opposition parties.

Further intensifying the ongoing debate, DMK’s Lok Sabha MP and former Union minister A Raja compared it to conditions like leprosy and HIV, which carry social stigma. These comments led the BJP to accuse opposition leaders of harboring “deep-rooted Hinduphobia.”

Raut acknowledged that every religion holds its beliefs and superstitions, but progress on issues like untouchability has arisen from within the Hindu religion. He pointed out that India has seen numerous eminent social reformers from Raja Rammohan Roy to Jyotiba Phule to B R Ambedkar, which has contributed to the continued existence of Sanatan Dharma in the country.

As the controversy over Raja and Udhayanidhi’s remarks escalated into a significant political dispute, the Congress sought to distance itself from their statements. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin accused the BJP of being ‘desperate’ to sow divisions within the INDIA opposition bloc.