Udhayanidhi Stalin refuses to apologise for remarks on Sanatana Dharma
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has reiterated that he will not apologise for his controversial statements advocating the "eradication" of Sanatana Dharma. He clarified that his remarks were aimed at addressing what he called the repressive practices against women. Stalin, a leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), said his words were misinterpreted, leading to the controversy that began in September 2023.
Speaking at an event on Monday, Udhayanidhi highlighted that his views were in line with the beliefs of prominent Dravidian leaders such as Periyar, former Chief Minister CN Annadurai, and his grandfather, M Karunanidhi. "Women were historically denied education, confined to their homes, and forced to die if their husbands passed away. Periyar spoke against these practices, and I echoed what Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar stood for," he said.
In September 2023, Udhayanidhi, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, sparked controversy after comparing Sanatana Dharma to diseases like "dengue" and "malaria" and calling for its eradication. He argued that Sanatana Dharma was opposed to social justice and equality, a statement that led to widespread backlash, especially from the BJP and Hindu organisations, resulting in legal cases being filed against him.
Despite the criticism, Udhayanidhi maintained that his remarks were misrepresented. "They asked me to apologise, but I stand by what I said. I am the grandson of Kalaignar, and I will not apologise," he asserted, vowing to face the legal challenges.
The Deputy Chief Minister also accused the central government of attempting to impose Hindi in Tamil Nadu, citing the omission of certain words from the state anthem during a recent Doordarshan Tamil programme as evidence. He urged new parents to choose Tamil names for their children, as a way of resisting the imposition of Hindi through policies such as the new education system.
Udhayanidhi, who previously served as the state's sports minister, was appointed Deputy Chief Minister on September 30, 2024. His elevation was reportedly delayed due to the controversy surrounding his Sanatana Dharma remarks.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
