‘’Let's Wait and See’’: TN Deputy CM Responds to Pawan Kalyan's Criticism of Sanatana Dharma Remarks

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin responded on Friday with, “Let’s wait and see,” following remarks from his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Pawan Kalyan, who stated that those opposing “Sanatana Dharma” would ultimately be eliminated.

Last September, months before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sports Minister Udhayanidhi drew national attention during an event in Chennai by comparing “Sanatana Dharma” to diseases like malaria and dengue, asserting that it should be driven away like mosquitoes. This comment sparked significant outrage, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to label him and the opposition as “anti-Hindu.”

In a continuation of the controversy, Kalyan stated on Thursday, without directly naming Udhayanidhi, “Don’t say ‘Sanatana Dharma’ is like a virus and that you will destroy it. If anyone attempts to wipe out ‘Sanatana Dharma,’ you will be wiped out.” Senior leaders from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supported Udhayanidhi, asserting that “Sanatana Dharma” is a long-standing issue, also highlighted by B.R. Ambedkar.

BJP national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have accused the DMK and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc of being “anti-Hindu.” Udhayanidhi faced multiple police cases across the country in response to his remarks, with petitions filed against him in both the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court. A bounty was even placed on his head. Despite the backlash, Udhayanidhi has remained firm in his stance. However, on Friday, after an event where he shared the stage with Governor R.N. Ravi for a university convocation, he chose not to escalate the controversy further, responding with a smile, “Okay, let’s wait and see.” Udhayanidhi was recently appointed as Deputy Chief Minister in the DMK-led government, serving alongside his father, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.