Udhayanidhi Stalin clarifies 'Sanatan' remark, says fight is against caste bias

Udhayanidhi Stalin said his remarks on Sanatan were aimed at caste discrimination and social inequality, not religion or temple worship. He said the stand reflected the Dravidian movement's long-held emphasis on equality and opposition to oppression.

In Short

• Udhayanidhi Stalin clarified Sanatan remarks target caste inequality, not religion
• He stressed equal rights in temples and society, opposing caste divisions
• DMK leader cited Dravidian icons supporting social justice principles

Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday clarified his remarks on “Sanatan,” saying his comments were aimed at caste discrimination and social inequality, and not against religion or temple worship.

Responding to criticism over remarks he made in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Udhayanidhi said his statement posted on X, “Sanatan, which divides people, must certainly be eradicated” had been misunderstood by opponents.

“Saying that Sanatan should be eradicated does not mean that no one should go to temples,” he said in a statement. “It means that everyone should have equal rights — not just in temples, but in society as a whole.”

The DMK leader said he was referring to practices that divide people into upper and lower castes and asserted that such discrimination should be abolished.

“What I meant is that the practice of dividing people into upper and lower castes must be abolished,” he said, while adding that the Dravidian movement had historically grown through opposition and criticism.

“I am not someone who fears such criticism,” Udhayanidhi said. “The Dravidian movement has grown through opposition.”

Invoking Dravidian and social justice icons, he said his views reflected the principles advocated by Periyar EV Ramasamy, BR Ambedkar, CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi.

“We are not against anyone’s belief in God. But we strongly oppose inequality and oppression,” he added.

Quoting Tamil philosopher-poet Thiruvalluvar, Udhayanidhi concluded with the line “Pirappokkum ella uyirkkum,” meaning all beings are equal by birth, and said that remained the guiding principle of the Dravidian movement.

Days earlier, the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly again advocated for the “eradication of Sanatan” on the floor of the House, triggering reactions from multiple quarters. However, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who was present in the Assembly, did not respond to the remarks.

“Sanathanam, which separated people, should be eradicated,” Udhayanidhi had said on the first day of the Assembly session after the 2026 state elections.

His remarks echoed his earlier comments on Sanatan Dharma, in which he compared the ancient religion to diseases such as dengue and malaria and called for its eradication. The comments had triggered major legal trouble for Udhayanidhi, with several court cases filed against him.

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