"Sarva Dharma Samabhava is our view": KC Venugopal on Udhayanidhi Stalin's remark

Sep 04, 2023

New Delhi [India], September 4 : In a press conference held in Delhi on Monday, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal was the first Congress leader to speak on Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's 'Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated' remark and said we believe in 'Sarva Dharma Samabhava' and we respect everyone's belief.   
"Our view is clear; 'Sarva Dharma Samabhava' is the Congress' ideology. Every political party has the freedom to tell their views...We are respecting everybody's beliefs..." said KC Venugopal.
The comments from Udyannidhi Stalin caused widespread condemnation from several quarters. Even members of the INDIA alliance, of which the DMK is also part, criticised the comments. 
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and RS MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said in a post on X "Sanatan Dharm stands for eternal truth- the way to live life- the conscience & being. Sanatanis have long withstood attacks by invaders to end their identity yet they have not just survived but thrived. The country’s bedrock, which is linked to sanatan dharm, has been of inclusiveness of all faiths and identities. Anyone making derogatory comments against it is ignorant of what it stands for." 
The comments of Udyanidhi Stalin also drew criticism from Telangana Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundararajan says, "He is very nervous... Nowadays, nobody is able to prevent the ideology of Santana Dharma...Now Diwali is celebrated even in parliaments of other countries. There has been the construction of Hanuman temples or Amman temples in all parts of the world...Santana Dharma is a disciplined way of life...They (DMK) do not like the word disciplined...Let them read and understand Santana Dharma...This shows his ignorance..."
Union Minister V Muraleedharan also spoke out against the comments made by the Tamil Nadu minister. He said "So that means either it is his lack of understanding of the principles of Sanatana Dharma or his hatred against the ethos, culture and heritage of India that is prompting him to make such statements..."