After his speech at the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers & Artists Association’s Eradicate Sanatan Conference went viral and received backlash from all over the country, here’s how the man at the centre of the storm, Udhayanidhi Stalin, made his many U-turns.
- Edit history replying to Amit Malviya’s tweet:
While his first two versions of the tweet sound arrogant, with the words,
“I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma. I am ready to present the extensive writings of Periyar and Ambedkar, who conducted in-depth research on Sanatan Dharma and its negative impact on society in any forum.
Let me reiterate the crucial aspect of my speech: I believe, like the spread of diseases like COVID-19, Dengue, and Malaria by mosquitoes, that Sanatan Dharma is responsible for many social evils. I am prepared to confront any challenges that come my way, whether in a court of law or the people’s court. Stop spreading fake news.”
The final version of the tweet read, “I never called for the genocide of people who are following Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality. I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma.
I am ready to present the extensive writings of Periyar and Ambedkar, who conducted in-depth research on Sanatan Dharma and its negative impact on society in any forum. Let me reiterate the crucial aspect of my speech: I believe, like the spread of diseases like COVID-19, Dengue, and Malaria by mosquitoes, that Sanatan Dharma is responsible for many social evils. I am prepared to confront any challenges that come my way, whether in a court of law or the people’s court. Stop spreading fake news.”
Note the addition of the first 2 sentences.
By this time, Legal Rights Observatory, LRO, had already informed him on Twitter (X) that they would slap cases against him.
Later, speaking to newspersons, he said, “All religions are the same to me.”
On 3 September, he said “I am saying again that I only criticised Sanatana Dharma and that Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated. I will say this continuously. Few are being childish saying I invited for genocide while others are saying that Dravidam should be abolished. Does that mean DMKians should be killed? When PM Modi says ‘Congress Mukth Bharat’, does that mean congressmen should be killed? What is Sanatana?
Sanatana means nothing should be changed and all are permanent. But the Dravida model calls for change and all should be equal. BJP twisting my statement and spreading fake news, it’s their usual job. I am ready to face whatever cases they file against me. BJP is scared of the INDIA Alliance & to divert that they are saying all this…DMK’s policy is One clan, one God: Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin”
On 4 September, speaking to news reporters, Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “Day before yesterday I spoke at a function about it (Sanatana Dharma). Whatever I said, I’ll repeat the same thing again and again…I included all the religions and not just Hinduism…I spoke condemning the caste differences that’s all…”
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s many u-turns are well summarised in this video that was shared on Twitter (X):
This speech of Udhayanidhi went viral first on Twitter (X) alone. When just a small percentage of Hindus on the platform raised their voice collectively, this dynastic bigot made so many u-turns in just a few days, we wonder how easy it will be to throw Dravidianism and anti-Hindu propaganda out of the window if entire Hindu samaj comes together. Wake up Hindus, it is still not too late to be united and stay united.
