India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday questioned why politicians of the Opposition bloc have remained silent over the controversial remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of ally Tamil Nadu State Chief Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin.
The BJP was particularly desirous to know what Congress parliamentarian and former party chief Rahul Gandhi felt about the matter.
Addressing a media briefing, former federal minister and senior BJP politician
Ravi Shankar Prasad pointed out that
Udhayanidhi compared Sanatan Dharma with dengue and malaria and was supported in this view by Karti Chidambaram - son of former Finance Minister and leading opposition politician, Palaniappan Chidambaram who is himself facing a serious trial over corruption charges - and he added: “I want to ask a big question - why is
Rahul Gandhi silent?”
“The silence of prominent leaders on this matter is unfortunate and shameful. The lack of response from Rahul and [Congress president Mallikarjun] Kharge is not only baffling but shocking,” the BJP politician said and further challenged Gandhi to clarify his stance on the controversial remarks.
'Sanatan Dharm' talks of an “eternal” or absolute set of duties or religiously ordained practices which people of the Hindu faith must observe.
Accusing the newly formed opposition bloc -
Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) - of making statements against Hinduism and 'Sanatan Dharm', the former federal minister said that they will continue to do this for votes and their ideology is anti-Hindu.
Prasad also extended a warning to the newly formed opposition bloc as he said that their political strategies should not be based on an anti-Hindu mindset, as it could provoke the country's anger.
Amid the row over his son’s controversial remarks,
Tamil Nadu State Chief Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin on Monday attacked the BJP as he launched a podcast titled 'Speaking for India'.
He said that the federally ruling party has taken “religion as their weapon” to conceal all its flaws.
In the podcast's first episode, he blamed the BJP of inciting religious sentiments of people and basking in the warmth of its fiery flames.
Accusing the BJP of sowing seeds of violence and hatred, Stalin pointed out the violence in the states of Manipur and Haryana, citing the 2002 Gujarat's communal riots.
“If we don't put an end to this right now, no one can save India and Indians,” Stalin said in the podcast.
The series of accusation and counter-accusations came a day after the Tamil Nadu state chief's son Udhayanidhi Stalin said that Sanatana is like malaria and dengue and must be eradicated rather than just opposed.
The remarks seem to have triggered nationwide outrage as the BJP said that Udhayanidhi’s call to eradicate Hinduism was “genocidal”.
Udhayanidhi, however, reiterated his stance, saying: “I am saying again that I only criticised Sanatana Dharm and that Sanatana Dharm should be eradicated. I will continue to say this. Few are being childish saying that I called for genocide and others are saying that 'Dravidam' [people of south Asia] should be abolished. Does that mean [members of Tamil Nadu party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam] should be killed?”