Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday, 13 May strongly condemned remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly regarding Sanatan Dharma, calling the statement "regrettable" and demanding that the observations be expunged from the official record of Assembly proceedings.

VHP's Condemnation and Key Demands

In a press statement issued through the VHP's official social media handle, the organisation's International President Alok Kumar questioned whether similar remarks would be made against any other religion. "Can they muster the courage to make such a statement against any other religion? Continuously insulting Sanatan Hinduism and its beliefs is contrary to democratic and constitutional values. This statement by the Leader of the Opposition should be immediately removed from the Assembly proceedings," Kumar said.

Kumar further alleged that political parties and leaders who benefit from Hindu traditions and temples were themselves targeting Sanatan Dharma. "It is an extremely ironic situation that those families and political parties who themselves directly or indirectly benefit from Sanatan traditions, temples, and Hindu society are the very ones talking about eradicating Sanatan," the statement read.

Temple Revenue Argument

Referring to temple revenues in Tamil Nadu, Kumar said, "The Tamil Nadu government receives substantial revenue from the state's renowned temples and religious sites associated with Sanatan traditions, yet displaying an anti-Sanatan mindset is akin to digging a hole in the very plate from which one eats." The VHP argued that the state's financial dependence on temple revenues made the remarks particularly contradictory.

Demand for Clarification from CM Vijay

The VHP leader also sought a public clarification from newly-appointed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Vijay on the government's position. "The new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu should also clarify his position on this matter — whether his government stands in favour of respecting Sanatan traditions and Hindu beliefs, or whether it supports such divisive and malicious anti-Hindu statements," the release stated. Notably, Chief Minister Vijay, who was reportedly present in the House during Udhayanidhi's remarks, did not publicly respond to the controversy.

Background and Political Context

The controversy over Sanatan Dharma has resurfaced in Tamil Nadu's political discourse, with Udhayanidhi Stalin — who serves as Leader of the Opposition — reigniting the debate through his Assembly remarks. His comments, which reportedly advocated the "eradication of Sanatan," triggered sharp reactions from multiple quarters. This is not the first time Udhayanidhi has courted controversy on the subject; his earlier public remarks comparing Sanatan Dharma to diseases drew nationwide backlash in 2023.

The VHP statement was issued by VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal. Kumar asserted that "Sanatan Hinduism is the cultural soul of Tamil Nadu as well as the entire India," adding that history had shown ideologies attempting to eradicate Sanatan had themselves perished, while Sanatan continued to guide society. The VHP demanded immediate expunging of the remarks and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.