'Constitutionally exposed': TN BJP seeks Udhayanidhi’s resignation after HC quashes FIR against Malviya
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Chennai: The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded the immediate resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, following a Madras High Court verdict that quashed an FIR against BJP leader Amit Malviya.
In a statement issued on Thursday, TN BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad asserted that the court's ruling has “constitutionally and morally exposed” Udhayanidhi, rendering him unfit to continue in public office. The demand comes days after the Madurai Bench, in an order dated January 20, set aside the criminal case against Malviya, the BJP’s National IT Department In-Charge.
Malviya had been booked for a social media post criticizing Udhayanidhi's controversial remarks on Sanatana Dharma. Justice S. Srimathy, while quashing the case, observed that Malviya’s response did not constitute a criminal offense and termed the FIR a "gross abuse of the legal process."
Prasad stated that the judgment vindicates the BJP’s stance that lawful criticism cannot be criminalized and that using police machinery to silence dissent will not withstand judicial scrutiny. He argued that the verdict refocuses attention on the Deputy Chief Minister's September 2023 speech, where he compared Sanatana Dharma to diseases like malaria and dengue, calling for its "eradication."
“The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, equality before the law, and mandates harmony among all communities. A minister who has sworn to uphold the Constitution cannot publicly demean or target any religion,” Prasad said, accusing Udhayanidhi of violating his oath of office and constitutional morality.
The BJP spokesperson emphasized that legal provisions against hate speech are meant to protect social harmony, not to shield high-ranking officials from accountability. He argued that Udhayanidhi’s continuation in power would erode public confidence and strain the state's secular fabric.
“Resignation is not a political demand alone; it is a constitutional and moral necessity,” Prasad added, calling for the Deputy CM to step down to preserve democratic values.
(Inputs from IANS)