BANGALORE: In the midst of the Sanatan Dharma controversy, an FIR has been lodged against Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Minister of Tamil Nadu, and Priyank Kharge, the son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, on charges of purportedly causing offense to religious sentiments, as confirmed by the police on Wednesday.
According to reports, the two individuals have been charged under sections 295A (engaging in deliberate and malicious actions to outrage religious sentiments) and 153A (promoting enmity between different religious groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). This legal action was taken at the Civil Lines Police Station on Tuesday. Udhayanidhi Stalin has been accused of advocating for the elimination of Sanatan Dharma, while Priyank Kharge is alleged to have supported his statements.
The FIR was initiated in response to a complaint filed by lawyers Harsh Gupta and Ram Singh Lodhi, who cited media reports concerning Stalin's statements, claiming that the politician's remarks had deeply hurt their sentiments.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, has faced significant criticism following his statement on Saturday, in which he suggested that Sanatan Dharma should not merely be opposed but eradicated. Despite widespread opposition to his anti-Sanatan Dharma stance, he remained resolute in his position, asserting that he would continue to voice his concerns on the matter.
Stalin remarked, "I will repeatedly address the issue that I discussed at the event on Saturday. I will speak more about it. I mentioned that day that I intend to address an issue that will irk many, and that is precisely what has transpired," on Monday.
The INDIA alliance appears to be divided over the Sanatan Dharma controversy, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders criticizing Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his "unadulterated hate speech."
On the other hand, the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Aam Aadmi Party, all of which are part of the Opposition INDIA bloc, distanced themselves from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's son for his comments regarding Sanatan Dharma.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee emphasized the importance of refraining from making remarks that could offend the religious sentiments of the people and expressed her respect for Sanatan Dharma. She stated, "It is shocking that a responsible politician should make this kind of utterly unacceptable statement. I hold the highest regard for the rich Tamil culture, but I strongly object to the statement made by Thiru Udhayanidhi," according to Congress leader Karan Singh.
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