The BJP on Wednesday continued its attack on Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his comments on Sanatana Dharma and demanded an immediate apology from him even as it warned of severe consequences "because there is severe anger across the country", for insulting not just the Hindu Dharma but all faiths.
Party’s Rajya Sabha member and BJP’s Telangana election in-charge Prakash Javadekar told reporters, "Udhayanidhi with his comments likening Sanatana Dharma with dengue and Covid-19, not only insulted Sanatana Dharma but all religions. He has hurt all believers. People live with their faiths and this is what has been hurt by him."
Taking aim at the Congress leading the I.N.D.I.A. political alliance of which DMK party to which Stalin belongs to is a part of, Javadekar said, "Clearly, the Congress of Mahatma Gandhi is very different from the Congress of Rahul Gandhi. Is this insult acceptable to Rahul Gandhi? Will he or Congress president Kharge spell out their party's stand on Udayanidhi’s views?"
He said, "We will keep our dignity. But people across the country are angry with Udayanidhi.
We have two demands. One, Udhayanidhi must immediately apologise, and Congress should make it clear if it supports or opposes Stalin’s comments."
Meanwhile, Karimnagar MP and former BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on a visit to the USA, said, "It has become a fashion for parties in the I.N.D.I.A. bloc to oppose Hindu Dharma, insult Hindus. This is their only agenda, but they must remember that those criticising Sanatana Dharma are also part of the same society that believes in it."
Sanjay, speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina, said, "Udhayanidhi’s grandfather described Lord Rama as an engineer and the grandson insults Sanatan Dharma. Whether it is Stalin, Sonia or Rahul Gandhi, if they speak against our faith, the reaction will be severe."
"When BJP’s Nupur Sharma, and MLA from Hyderabad Raja Singh were accused of hurting religious sentiments, the party suspended them. If the I.N.D.I.A. leaders do not condemn Uhdayanidhi’s comments, it will be seen as Hindu betrayers and the consequences will be severe," he warned.