“President was not invited during inauguration of Parliament’s new building because she is widow, tribal”: Udhayanidhi Stalin
Sep 20, 2023
Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 20 : Amid a simmering controversy over his remarks against Sanatana Dharma, DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday claimed that President Droupadi Murmu was invited during the inauguration of the new building of the Parliament as she is a “widow and belongs to the tribal community”.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, during an event in Madurai earlier today, questioned the principles of Sanatana, saying that he will continue to raise his voice against this.
“The new Parliament building was inaugurated. They (BJP) got the Adheenams from Tamil Nadu for the inauguration, but the President of India was not invited because she is a widow and is from a tribal community. Is this Sanatan Dharma? We will continue to raise our voice against it,” he said.
As many as 21 Adheenams were invited from Chennai to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building in May.
Modi inaugurated the new parliament in May amid a boycott by the Opposition which wanted India's president to inaugurate instead.
Dharmapuram Adheenam, Palani Adheenam, Virudhachalam Adheenam, and Thirukoyilur Adheenam were among the Adheenams who left for Delhi from Chennai to attend the ceremony.
DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin recently caused a storm as he alleged that Sanatana Dharma is against social justice and that it should be eradicated.
On September 2, while likening Sanatana Dharma to the coronavirus, malaria and dengue, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that such things should not be opposed but destroyed.
Notably, Udhayanidhi's remark on Sanatan Dharma has sparked massive controversy across the nation. Several BJP leaders and Hindu priests have strongly criticised his statement. The BJP has demanded an apology from MK Stalin's son. Leaders from the BJP have also blamed the INDIA bloc for Udhayanidhi's remark, claiming such an agenda was discussed during the recent meeting that was held in Mumbai.
However, the Madras High Court in its September 15 order said that Sanatana Dharma is a set of 'eternal duties' that can be gathered from multiple sources relating to Hinduism or those practising the Hindu way of life and includes “the duty to the nation, duty to the King, King's duty to his people, duty to one's parents and Gurus, care for the poor, and whole lot of other duties”.
The court also said that when free speech is exercised in matters pertaining to religion, it is necessary for one to ensure that no one is injured and “free speech cannot be hate speech”.