The Opposition INDIA group, which consists of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and AAP, distanced themselves from Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Congress, Lalu Prasad Yadav, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and MK Stalin, the leader of the DMK, during the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) summit on September 1 in Mumbai. (PTI) The opposition appears divided over the controversy, despite the Bharatiya Janata Party criticizing Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his “Sanatana Dharma” remarks and challenging Rahul Ganghi’s position.
The Opposition INDIA alliance, which consists of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Aam Aadmi Party, distanced themselves from the DMK leader after he compared Sanatan Dharma to coronavirus, malaria, and dengue and stated such things shouldn’t be opposed but eliminated.
The TMC stated on Monday that the Opposition group had nothing to do with the remarks made by the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. “We denounce such statements. Our culture is one of peace. We must honour other religions. Such remarks have nothing to do with the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. We should denounce such words, regardless of who makes them, according to TMC spokesman Kunal Ghosh.
Mamata Banerjee, leader of the TMC and chief minister of West Bengal, remarked without identifying anyone that one should not comment on anything that can offend someone’s religious feelings and that one should respect Sanatan Dharma. “I have a lot of respect for the Tamil Nadu population. But I humbly ask them to remember that each faith has its own unique sentiments. India is a democratic, secular nation, and at the same time, our roots are in the concept of unity in diversity. I revere Sanatan Dharma as a result. Everywhere we go, we visit temples, mosques, and churches. We shouldn’t get involved in anything that can harm a certain group, Banerjee remarked.
“Instead of using the word “condemn,” I humbly ask that no one comment on anything that might harm either the major section or the little section. Unity in difference must always be kept in mind, she continued.
The DMK leader’s remarks were sharply criticised by Congress leader Karan Singh, who called them “most unfortunate and totally unacceptable.”
Karan Singh called the remarks absurd and said that millions of Indians “follow the tenets of Sanatan Dharma to a lesser or greater extent.”
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal was the first member of the party to respond to Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi’s statement at a news conference held in Delhi. He stated that the party supports “Sarva Dharma Samabhava” and respects everyone’s religious beliefs.
“Our position is unmistakable: the ideology of the Congress is ‘Sarva Dharma Samabhava’. Every political group is free to voice their opinions. We respect everyone’s religious convictions, Venugopal stated.
Priyank Kharge, a Congress leader from Karnataka and the son of Mallikarjun Kharge, the party’s president, responded to the controversy by claiming that any religion that does not uphold equal rights is not a religion and “is as good as a disease.”
