Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday (September 4) came out in support of DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin over his “Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated like Malaria” remark and said that any religion that “goes not give equal rights is as good as disease”.
Nationwide anger has erupted against the remark of Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is also the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, with people from various walks of life condemning it including the political leaders.
“I am saying again that I only criticised Sanatana Dharma and that Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated. I will say this continuously. Few are being childish saying I invited for genocide while others are saying that Dravidam should be abolished. Does that mean DMKians should be killed?" Stalin’s son said defending his statement that Sanatan Dharma should be eradicated.
Karnataka Minister defends remark
Speaking to the reporters, Congress president Kharge’s son, who is a minister in the Karnataka government, said, “Any religion that does not promote equality or does not ensure you have the dignity of being human is not religion, according to me... Any religion that does not give equal rights or does not treat you like humans is as good as disease…”
BJP hits out at Rahul Gandhi over his silence
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (September 4) came down heavily on 'I.N.D.I.A' alliance partners Rahul Gandhi, Nitish Kumar, and Tejashwi Yadav for their “silence” over ‘Sanatan Dharma’ remark by ally Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's son Udhayanidhi.
Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Opposition bloc of “opposing” the Hindu religion for vote bank politics and said that their silence on the matter is baffling and shocking.
“Udhayanidhi Stalin has compared Sanatana Dharma with Dengue and Malaria. The big question is why is Rahul Gandhi silent? It's been two days. He says that he is a Hindu, and goes to temples. He is proving that he did it for votes. Why are Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav silent? INDIA bloc is opposing the Hindu religion for votes. Their basic thought is anti-Hindu. This is their trend to go to any extent for votes,” he said.
Udhayanidhi, however, said that he's ready to face any action against him while accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of 'twisting' his statement and spreading fake news.
"I am ready to face whatever cases they file against me. BJP is scared of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance and to divert that they are saying all this. DMK's policy is One clan, one God," Udhayanidhi Stalin said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Opposition alliance and accused them of doing vote bank politics.
“These people have talked about 'Sanatan dharma' for vote bank appeasement. They have insulted ('Sanatan dharma'),” Amit Shah said during a rally in Rajasthan on Sunday.
(With ANI inputs)
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