The Maharashtra police have taken action in response to the recent controversial statement made by Tamil Nadu Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding Sanatan Dharma. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against him, marking a significant development in this ongoing controversy.
Complaint and Charges under IPC
The FIR was lodged at 11 pm on a Tuesday following a complaint by Nagnath Kambale, a 38-year-old data supervisor residing in Mira Road, who works at a Vidyavihar-based company. Kambale had come across Stalin's statement in an English newspaper on September 4, prompting him to take legal action against the DMK leader. Udhayanidhi Stalin now faces charges under two sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC): Section 153A, which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony, and Section 295A, which deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.
Legal Troubles and Impact
This is not the first instance of legal action taken against Udhayanidhi Stalin. He was previously booked in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur on charges of allegedly outraging religious feelings. The FIR in this case also included Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge's son and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, who had expressed support for Udhayanidhi's controversial remarks. Both were charged with promoting enmity and outraging religious feelings. The controversy surrounding Udhayanidhi's statements has not been limited to a single FIR. Another complaint was filed against him before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, demonstrating the widespread concern over the issue.
Provocative Statements, Reactions and Threats
Udhayanidhi Stalin made these controversial remarks during an event in Chennai on September 2. In his speech, he equated Sanatan Dharma with "dengue, malaria, fever, and corona" and went on to suggest that it should not merely be opposed but eradicated, as noted in the FIR filed in Mira Road. The controversial statement had immediate and severe repercussions. Ayodhya's Tapasvi Chhawani Temple's seer Ramchandra Das Paramhans Acharya announced a bounty of Rs 10 crore on Stalin's head, reflecting the anger and outrage it had sparked. Additionally, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat issued a warning, stating that anyone speaking against Sanatana Dharma would face severe consequences, including having their tongues pulled out and eyes gouged out.
Political Response and Stalin's Defiance
The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) weighed in on the controversy, urging Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal to initiate legal action against Udhayanidhi. They claimed that his comments had led to communal disharmony, and reports emerged that police stations across Tamil Nadu had initially refused to file a case against Stalin. Despite the legal actions and controversies surrounding his statements, Udhayanidhi Stalin has maintained his readiness to face any legal consequences, and he has not backed down from his original remarks.
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