'Submit Materials For Proof' Says Madras HC To Petitioners Who Sought Writ Of Quo Warranto To Be Issued To Udhayanidhi For Sanatana Dharma Remarks

Justice Anita Sumanth of the Madras High Court today (6 October) asked three office-bearers of the Hindu Munnani who had urged the Court to issue a writ of quo warranto asking Youth Welfare and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) minister P Sekar Babu and DMK MP A Raja to explain under what authority they were holding public offices after having participated in a conference to eradicate Sanatana Dharma and calling for its eradication, to submit proof of their participation and speeches.

The petitions were made by state secretaries T Manohar, J Kishore Kumar and vice-president VP Jayakumar in their personal capacities.

The order was passed after Senior Counsel P Wilson, who represented Udhayanidhi, Sekar Babu and Raja, said that the petitioners had approached the Court without supporting materials.

According to a report by The Hindu, in his affidavit, Manohar stated that the participation of Udhayanidhi was against the oath taken by him while being sworn in as MLA and later as a minister. He contended that an MLA or Minister could not be acting against any community.

Further, he stated that Udhayanidhi not only participated in the conference but also equated Sanatana Dharma with diseases like malaria, dengue and corona while calling for its eradication.

Regarding the issue of whether Sanatana Dharma was the same as Hinduism, he stated that speaking before Udhayanidhi, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) leader K Veeramani in the same conference had said that Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma were one and the same and as Udhayanidhi had not objected to it, it should be inferred that he agreed with Veeramani.

Kishore Kumar's plea against HRCE minister Sekar Babu was similar in nature. He contended that it was common knowledge that the ancient name of the Hindu religion was Sanatana Dharma.

The third writ petition, filed by Jayakumar was against DMK MP A Raja for his remarks stating that Udhayanidhi had been soft on Sananata Dharma by comparing it to diseases like malaria and dengue and he should have compared it to diseases like HIV and leprosy which have social stigma.

Jayakumar too contended that the remarks were against the oath taken by him while being sworn in as an MP and that they were against the principles of the constitution.

Also Read: Supreme Court Issues Notice To Udhayanidhi Stalin For 'Eradicate Sanatana Dharma' Remarks