The Supreme Court has taken notice of a plea filed by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, seeking directions to consolidate multiple FIRs and complaints filed against him for his controversial statements on 'Sanatan Dharm'. The bench, headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has also sought responses from various state governments on the matter. The DMK leader has also been receiving threats to his life, highlighting the difficulty he will face in appearing before multiple police stations and courts.
In a public address, politician Tejashwi Yadav denounced Prime Minister Modi's claims that Sanatan Dharma is under threat, pointing out that the PM himself belongs to and praises the religion. Yadav also noted the irony in the fact that all three branches of the Indian military also adhere to Sanatan Dharma, again challenging the PM's assertion that the religion is in danger. This criticism serves to highlight the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding religion and politics in India.
In a speech at the National PR Day Celebrations in Hyderabad, former Chief Secretary LV Subramanyam discussed the importance of Sanatan values in promoting brotherhood and moral principles. He urged PR professionals to help bridge the gap between personal and public life and to educate people on the true meaning of Sanatan Dharma.
Justice Anita Sumanth, of the Madras High Court, stated that State minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's comments about Sanatana Dharma were "divisive" and against Constitutional principles. The Court also said that making unverified claims about Sanatana Dharma spreads misinformation and that those in constitutional positions should only espouse principles of constitutionalism. However, the Court did not issue a writ of quo warranto to remove Stalin as minister, stating that it cannot do so unless he is disqualified under law. This came after a petition filed by the Hindu Munnani questioning Stalin's continuation in office despite his statement at a conference in Chennai, where he stated that Sanatana Dharma must be eradicated like diseases such as dengue and malaria.