‘Every religion should be respected; I respect Sanatan Dharma’: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, commenting on DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s controversial remarks against Sanatan Dharma, said on Monday (September 4) that “every religion should be equally respected” because “India is about unity in diversity”.

The TMC supremo added that no one should be involved in any matter that might hurt people. “I have high regards and respect for the people of Tamil Nadu and South India. But my humble request is, respect all, as every religion has separate sentiments. India is a secular and democratic country. India is about unity in diversity,” she said.

About Stalin’s comment, Banerjee said, “He is a junior and may not know about it. …I am not clear about why and on what grounds he made the comment. I feel that each and every religion should be equally respected...I respect Sanatan Dharma and we derive our learnings from the Vedas.”

Banerjee pointed out that the West Bengal government gives pension to Hindu priests. “We have so many temples across the country. We visit temples, mosques, and churches. We should not be involved in any matter which might hurt a section of people,” she stressed.

“Ignorant,” says Shiv Sena (UBT) MP

Banerjee’s comment comes after her party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh’s condemnation of Udhayanidhi’s remark. “His comment is most unfortunate. This is not related to the INDIA alliance. We (TMC) strongly condemn it. He should change his comment,” he told PTI.

Apart from TMC, another INDIA alliance partner, Shiv Sena (UBT) has also slammed the comment made by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s son. Party MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took to X (Twitter) to slam Udhayanidhi without taking any names.

“Sanatan Dharm stands for eternal truth- the way to live life- the conscience & being. Sanatanis have long withstood attacks by invaders to end their identity yet they have not just survived but thrived. The country’s bedrock, which is linked to Sanatan Dharm, has been of inclusiveness of all faiths and identities. Anyone making derogatory comments against it is ignorant of what it stands for,” she posted.

Udhayanidhi’s comment

DMK youth wing secretary and Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi claimed on Saturday that Sanatan Dharma is against equality and social justice and likened it to “coronavirus, malaria, fever caused by dengue virus and mosquitoes”.

“A few things cannot be opposed; they should be abolished. We can’t oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona. We have to eradicate these; that’s how we have to eradicate Sanatana. Rather than opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated,” Udhayanidhi had said.

His remarks evoked sharp reactions from the BJP across the country, with some of its leaders alleging that it was a call for genocide and others demanding that the DMK leader be booked for treason. Stalin has rubbished the genocidal claim and said his speech had pointed to social evils.

With the BJP attacking the INDIA alliance, of which DMK is also a part, for being anti-Hindu, Congress said it respects all religions but all political parties have the freedom to express their views.