Chennai, Jan 22 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party has called for the immediate resignation of Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, referencing the recent verdict from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that dismissed the FIR against BJP leader Amit Malviya.

In a statement, A.N.S. Prasad, spokesperson for the Tamil Nadu BJP, remarked that the High Court’s ruling has “constitutionally and morally exposed” Udhayanidhi Stalin’s qualifications to remain in public office.

He emphasized that the judgment reinforces the BJP’s long-standing belief that lawful criticism of incendiary comments cannot be criminalized and that using police forces to suppress dissent fails to hold up under judicial review.

The Madurai Bench, in its ruling dated January 20, annulled the criminal case against Amit Malviya, the National In-Charge of the BJP’s IT Department, concerning a social media post that reacted to Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks on Sanatana Dharma.

Justice S. Srimathy noted that Malviya’s comments did not constitute a criminal offense and described the FIR as a serious misuse of legal procedures.

Prasad highlighted that this ruling calls attention to the Deputy Chief Minister’s own controversial statements made during a conference in September 2023, where he spoke of “eradicating” Sanatana Dharma and likened it to infectious diseases like malaria, dengue, and coronavirus. According to the BJP, these comments have deeply offended the religious sentiments of millions and represent hate speech against a faith observed by a significant majority of Indians.

“The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, equality under the law, and calls for harmony among all communities. A minister who swore to uphold the Constitution cannot disparage or target any religion publicly,” Prasad stated.

He further asserted that such statements violate constitutional morality and the ministerial oath. The BJP spokesperson pointed out that the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) concerning the promotion of enmity and deliberate insult to religious beliefs are designed to preserve social harmony, not to protect those in high office.

He contended that the High Court’s decision bolsters the principle of holding public figures accountable for their statements.

Stating that this matter goes beyond mere political rivalry, Prasad mentioned that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s continued presence in office would further diminish public trust, disrupt social harmony, and undermine the secular foundation of the State. “Resignation is not merely a political demand; it is a constitutional and moral necessity,” he urged, calling for the Deputy Chief Minister to resign immediately in the interest of democratic values and national harmony.