Bengaluru: Defending Tamil Nadu Minister and actor Udhayanidhi Stalin’s statement on "eradication of Sanatana Dharma", Karnataka Minister for RDPR, Information Technology and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge on Tuesday, challenged and questioned BJP national General Secretary B.L. Santhosh, saying "who divided society on the basis of caste?"
Santhosh while condemning the statement of Udhayanidhi Stalin, stated that "if there is an infection in somebody’s stomach, you chop off the head?"
This question was in response to Priyank Kharge's statement on Monday in which he said that any religion that did not give equal rights and dignity to human beings was like a disease.
Referring to the caste system Kharge, said, “Mr. B.L. Santhosh, I am happy that you agreed that there is an infection to be treated.”
"There have been many infections for over thousands of years and it is still prevalent today that discriminates between humans and denies them their dignity of being a human", Kharge wrote on X.
“I am not as intelligent as you are, but please enlighten me. - Who put these rules in the society? - What makes someone more righteous than the other? - Who divided us on caste lines? - Why are certain people untouchables? - Why can’t they enter temples even now? - Who got into these practices that underline the inferior status of women? Who got into the caste-based social structure, which is unequal and oppressive?” Priyank Kharge questioned.
“No one intends to chop off the head, but one needs to cure the infection with equal rights and dignity to all. The only cure to all these infections is the Constitution to which your organization (RSS and BJP) and you (B.L. Santhosh) are against. You are from Karnataka, please spread the preachings of Guru Basavanna, it will help us build a more equitable society," Kharge added.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) youth wing leader and Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin had called for the “eradication of Sanatana Dharma from the society”, during an event organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Forum on September 2.
“A few things cannot be opposed; they should be abolished only. We can't oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona. We have to eradicate this; that's how we have to eradicate Sanatana. Rather than opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated," he had said.
His remarks on Sanatan Dharma soon sparked outrage on social media with many including several BJP leaders condemning his statements.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya slammed Udhayanidhi for his remarks, saying that the minister was calling for “genocide of 80% population of Bharat, who follow Sanatan Dharma.”
However, Udhayanidhi Stalin said that he stood by his words and clarified that he never called for the genocide of people believing in Sanathan Dharma. He also added that twisting facts and spreading lies was the BJP’s “regular habit”.
“I am ready to face any legal challenge. We will not be cowed down by such usual saffron threats”, Udhaynidhi Stalin further tweeted in response to the threats.