NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout

    India
    Business
    World
    Politics
    Sports
    Technology
    Entertainment
    Auto
    Lifestyle
    Inspirational
    Career
    Bengaluru
    Delhi
    Mumbai

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    Home / News / India News / SC pulls up Udhayanidhi Stalin for remarks against Sanatan Dharma 
    Summarize
    Next Article
    SC pulls up Udhayanidhi Stalin for remarks against Sanatan Dharma 
    The Supreme Court said Udhayanidhi abused his rights under freedom of speech

    SC pulls up Udhayanidhi Stalin for remarks against Sanatan Dharma 

    By Manzoor-ul-Hassan
    Mar 04, 2024
    07:49 pm

    What's the story

    The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Tamil Nadu minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhighan (DMK) leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for his remarks against Sanatan Dharma last year.

    "You are not a layman. You are a minister. You should know the consequences," the SC told his lawyer.

    The court observed that Udhayanidhi, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, abused his rights under freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of religion.

    It has postponed the hearing on his plea until March 15.

    Context

    Why does this story matter?

    Last September, Udhayanidhi compared Sanatan Dharma to diseases like dengue, malaria, COVID-19, etc., saying it should be eradicated.

    While Udhayanidhi said he was referring to the caste system, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other Hindu organizations condemned his statement. Later, several DMK and Congress leaders allegedly came to his defense.

    The remarks left the opposition bloc, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), of which the DMK is a member, open to BJP attacks.

    Udhayanidhi's clarification

    Udhayanidhi clarifies his stance amid criticism

    Udhayanidhi's plea is seeking to combine multiple FIRs filed against him in various states over the controversial comments.

    After facing backlash from opposition parties who accused him of promoting genocide, he clarified his position in a September 2023 message.

    "I never called for the genocide of people who follow Sanatan Dharma," he claimed.

    "Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality," he added.

    Case and controversy

    Cases against Udhayanidhi

    Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke over the issue, saying it needed a "proper response."

    Udhayanidhi was first booked under Sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly "promoting enmity between different religious groups" and "deliberately and maliciously outraging religious feelings."

    Karnataka Congress leader Priyank Kharge was also named in this FIR.

    The case was filed in Uttar Pradesh after lawyers Harsh Gupta and Ram Singh Lodhi claimed that the comments had hurt their feelings.

    In a letter

    Eminent citizens urged CJI to act against Udhayanidhi

    To recall, a group of 262 prominent persons, including retired judges and bureaucrats, wrote to Chief Justice (CJI) DY Chandrachud last year, urging him to take cognizance of Udhayanidhi's controversial statements.

    The letter claimed that the DMK leader's remarks amounted to hate speech and struck at the core of India's secular Constitution, adding that they could incite communal violence.

    The signatories included former Delhi High Court Judge SN Dhingra and former Foreign Secretary of India Kanwal Sibal, among others.

    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Latest
    Udhayanidhi Stalin
    MK Stalin
    Supreme Court Of India
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

    Latest

    K-pop stars turn demon hunters in Netflix's new animated film K-Pop
    Napoli win Serie A 2024/25 title: Decoding key stats Antonio Conte
    Winner of 'Roadies 20' leaked! Did your fav make it? MTV
    IPL 2025, SRH overcome RCB: Presenting Player of the Day Pat Cummins

    Udhayanidhi Stalin

    Sanatan row: Eminent citizens urge CJI to act against Udhayanidhi MK Stalin
    Sanatana row: Udhayanidhi raises discrimination issue, cites President Murmu, Mahabharat Droupadi Murmu
    Udhayanidhi, Priyank Kharge booked for outraging religious sentiments Priyank Kharge
    Needs proper response: PM Modi on Sanatan row Narendra Modi

    MK Stalin

    Tamil Nadu migrant workers' row: Bihar YouTuber Manish Kashyap arrested Bihar
    MK Stalin felicitates Oscar-winner Kartiki Gonsalves with Rs. 1 crore Tamil Nadu
    Amid backlash, FSSAI withdraws order to rename 'curd' to 'dahi' Tamil Nadu
    Chennai Police books Kalakshetra teacher for allegedly sexually harassing alumna Chennai

    Supreme Court Of India

    SC pauses HC order to survey Mathura's Shahi Idgah mosque Allahabad High Court
    Mahua Moitra gets eviction notice, with 'use of force' warning Mahua Moitra
    HC notice to Maharashtra Speaker, others on Shinde faction's pleas Uddhav Thackeray
    Bilkis Bano case: Convict requests more time to surrender Bilkis Bano

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

    Congress's lone Jharkhand MP Geeta Koda quits party, joins BJP  Lok Sabha Elections
    Congress promises to scrap Agnipath scheme if voted to power Congress Party
    RS elections: Battle for 15 seats today amid cross-voting concerns Congress Party
    Rajya Sabha polls: Manoj Pandey resigns as SP chief whip Uttar Pradesh
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2025