Sanatan Dharma row: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wants INDIA alliance to apologise

BJP activists stage a protest against Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin over his controversial remarks on ‘Sanatan Dharma’, in Patna on Monday. Pic/PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday hit out at the opposition over DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin's comments on Sanatan Dharma, asking why Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot are "silent" on the issue. Addressing a public meeting in Jaisalmer on the launch of the third round of BJP's Parivartan Yatra in Rajasthan, he also took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, saying Chandrayaan successfully landed on the south pole of the Moon but "Rahulyaan" could neither be launched nor landed.

Rajnath Singh, defence minister

On Stalin's comments, Singh said, "I want to ask (Rajasthan Chief Minister) Ashok Gehlot why he does not speak, why Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, (Congress president Mallikarjun) Kharge do not say what is their thinking on Sanatan Dharma." The DMK has hurt Sanatan Dharma and Congress leaders are "silent" on the issue, the senior BJP leader said. I.N.D.I.A bloc members should apologise for the insult to Sanatan Dharma or the country won't forgive them, Singh said. The DMK leader should be asked for an explanation over his comments, Singh said and added that "Sanatan Dharma considers the world as a family and gives the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family)".

Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has alleged that Sanatan Dharma is against equality and social justice, and that it should be eradicated. Udhayanidhi, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, also likened Sanatan Dharma to coronavirus, malaria, and dengue and said such things should not be opposed but destroyed. Agencies

Also read: Another Quran burning in Sweden

Congress leader speaks

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said while the Congress' stand is clear, every other political party has the freedom to express its own view. "Actually, our view is very clear - ‘Sarvadharma Sambhav' (equal respect to all religions) is the Congress ideology. But, you have to understand that every political party has its own freedom to tell their views," he said. "We are respecting everybody's beliefs," the Congress leader said.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever