The Uttar Pradesh Police have booked Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge over their statements against Sanatan Dharma.
DMK leader Udhayanidhi was booked for his call to eradicate Sanatan Dharma and Congrass leader Kharge for backing his remark, said UP Police.
The First Information Report (FIR) against the DMK and Congress leaders was registered at the Civil Lines police station in Rampur based on the complaint of a right wing lawyer, Ram Singh Lodhi.
The FIR was lodged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or the religious beliefs) and 153 A (promoting enmity between two different groups).
Udhayanidhi Stalin has been facing the hate campaign from Hindutva corners over his statements against Sanatan Dharma.
Responding to hate campaigns, Udhayanidhi Stalin stated that he firmly stands by every word he has spoken.
“I spoke on behalf of the oppressed and marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma,” he had said.
“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,” he said.
Two days ago, Paramhans Acharya, a seer from Ayodhya, released a video that showed him holding a poster of Udhayanidhi in one hand and a sword in the other, and staging the symbolic beheading of the DMK leader . He was also seen setting the poster on fire. The seer announced a reward of Rs 10 crore for anyone who beheads Udhayanidhi.
“I would like to tell him to first read the history of Sanatan Dharma and then comment against it. He should apologise for whatever he has said against our Sanatan Dharma, and if he does not apologise, no matter if he is the son of a chief minister, he will get the punishment. If his head doesn’t get beheaded, I will increase the bounty; if at all required, I will myself behead him, Paramhans Acharya said.
Reacting to the video, Udhayanidhi said, “Today a swamy (seer) announced Rs 10 crore bounty for my head. He said whoever beheads Udayanidhi will get Rs 10 crore. Is he a real saint or a duplicate one? Why do you like my head so much? From where are you getting so much money? Why are you announcing Rs 10 crore to comb my hair? I will do it on my own if you give me a Rs 10 comb.”
