"Sanatan opposed to idea of equality": DMK's TKS Elangovan jumps to Udhayanidhi's defence

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 7 : Coming out in defence of Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who has come under attack from the BJP as well as seers for his remarks equating Sanatan Dharma with "dengue, malaria and corona" and calling for it to be eradicated, fellow party leader TKS Elangovan on Thursday claimed 'Sanatanam' was opposed to the idea of equality.
Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Elangovan said, "They only picked on the last line of Udhayanidhi's speech. He only put forward his views on how human beings should be treated. Each and every one of us are born equal. The blood that courses through the veins of every person doesn't have any caste or creed. Everybody should be treated fairly and equally. This has been our way since ancient times. But 'Sanatana' (Sanatan Dharma) is opposed to this. Hence, it should be abolished and eradicated. This is what he (Udhayanidhi) meant."
The DMK leader added, "Let them (BJP) say that 'Sanatana' conforms with what he (Udayanidhi) said. If it conforms with the idea of equality and fair treatment of all human beings, irrespective of faith or caste, why should we oppose it?"
Earlier, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairing a meeting of the Council of Ministers, weighed in on the furore around Udhayanidhi's remarks, asking his ministers to aggressively counter the attack on Sanatan Dharma.
He advised his ministers to counter the Opposition's narrative on the Sanatan Dharma with facts.
Even as the BJP went after his son, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin jumped to his defence on X, posting, "Hon'ble Minister @UdhayStalin didn't call for 'genocide' as distorted by BJP, but only spoke against discrimination. Disheartening to see the 'responsible' Hon'ble Prime Minister, Union Ministers and BJP Chief Ministers ignore facts and driven on fake narratives despite having all access and resources to verify the facts."
Earlier, on Wednesday, Trichy police booked BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya for allegedly spreading misinformation and distorting Udhayanidhi's remarks.
The move was seen as a tit-for-tat response to Udhayanidhi and Congress leader Priyank Kharge being booked for allegedly "hurting religious sentiments". An FIR was filed on a complaint by two advocates at Rampur in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Chennai conference last week, Udhayanidhi said 'Sanatana' is like malaria and dengue, which should not be merely opposed but eradicated.
"A few things cannot be opposed but should only be abolished. We can't merely oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona. They have to be eradicated. Rather than opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated," he said.