Chennai: Former deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin triggered a fresh row on Tuesday stating in the Tamil Nadu assembly that sanatan dharma should be eradicated.“Sanathanam that divides people must certainly be eradicated,” Udhayanidhi said in his concluding remarks of his maiden speech as leader of opposition in the assembly. The remarks sparked sharp reactions from BJP. “Your hatred for Hinduism would lead to your downfall,” said BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran. “Hurting millions of Hindus by your remarks in the maiden speech shows that you have not matured politically,” Nagenthran said. BJP leader Amit Malviya said “mocking and targeting the faith of millions of people is not courage, its arrogance.” Several leaders of right wing outfits have also condemned Udhayanidhi for the statement. Udhayanidhi then urged the govt to ensure that ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’ was given due importance during govt events. “During the swearing-in ceremony of the chief minister, ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ was pushed to third position, causing anger and shock among the people,” he said. He said even in swearing-in ceremony in West Bengal where BJP had won, ‘Vande Mataram’ was not sung first. “But here in Tamil Nadu it was sung,” he said. “The incident that occurred at your govt’s swearing-in ceremony must not be allowed to happen again in this assembly or any other event outside,” he said. Udhayanidhi then said people of the state have sent a message by not giving a majority to the ruling party. “Generally, there will be more ruling party members in the assembly. But this time, the opposition benches are nearly equal in strength. Through this, people of Tamil Nadu have told us something important,” he said. Respecting the mandate, DMK will function not as an enemy but as a constructive opposition, he said. “DMK has always been and will always be a constructive force,” he said. The ruling and opposition should function together for the state’s development, Udhayanidhi said. “That is people’s expectation and DMK’s desire,” he said.Udhayanidhi then recalled that CM Vijay and he studied in the same college. “However, in politics we belong to the senior batch as DMK came to power in 1967,” he said in a lighter vein. “On that basis, we are ready to share our knowledge and experience. Be ready to accept it,” he said.
