'Request DMK To Respect All Religions': Mamata's Advice To Tamil Nadu CM, His Son Udhayanidhi After 'Eradicate Sanatana Dharma' Comment

Amid the raging controversy over DMK leader Udayanidhi Stalin's controversial remarks against Sanatan Dharma, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday (4 September) said no one should be involved in any matter which might hurt people.

"I have full respect for Tamil Nadu," Banerjee said on Monday.

"Every religion has their separate sentiments. Let's not make any comments that may hurt the majority or minority of the population. India is a secular and democratic country and unity in diversity is in our origin," the West Bengal CM was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Emphasizing that Stalin's statement did not align with her own ideology, Banerjee reiterated her respect for Sanatan Dharma.

She highlighted the state's pension scheme for Hindu priests as evidence of this respect and support.

"I believe we shouldn't get involved in any matter that may hurt the sentiments of any section of society. He (Stalin) is junior and maybe he has faltered. I came to know of his comment recently and can't speak from his perspective. My view is, they need to respect every religion," Banerjee added.

Elaborating on her 'unity in diversity' theme while distancing herself form Stalin's remarks, Banerjee said Lord Balaji is popular in south India, while Siddhi Vinayak in Maharashtra, and Maa Durga in Bengal.

Banerjee acknowledged that India is home to people from different castes and religions.

Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh expressed his disappointment with Stalin's statement, describing it as "unfortunate" and "undesirable".

He clarified that the Opposition I.N.D.I. Alliance bloc does not support Stalin's comments.

"We want to make it very clear that the INDIA bloc has no connection with Stalin's comments. It doesn't matter whose son he is. We are looking at this as a stray comment which is unfortunate and undesirable and we strongly protest against the comment," Ghosh was quoted as saying in the ToI report.

The statement made by Udhayanidhi Stalin, the DMK youth wing chief and Tamil Nadu Sports Minister, calling for the eradication of Sanathana Dharma from society, citing its alleged contribution to various social issues, has ignited a major controversy, reports Deccan Herald.

The BJP has seized upon his words, labeling it as a "call for genocide" and accusing the opposition alliance of being "anti-Hindu.

At a conference on 'Eradicating Sanatana Dharma From the Society' organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers, Artists Association on Saturday (2 September), Udhayanidhi equated 'Sanatana' (Sanatan Dharma) with "mosquitoes, Dengue, Malaria, fever, and Corona", adding that it should be stamped out like these ailments.