Chennai: DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday reiterated his controversial stand against Sanatana Dharma during his maiden speech as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, stating that “Sanatana Dharma, which divides people, must certainly be abolished.”
The remarks echoed statements made by Udhayanidhi in September 2023 that had sparked nationwide political controversy, criticism from Hindu organisations and multiple legal complaints.
During his address in the Assembly, the DMK leader also strongly objected to what he described as an attempt to sideline “Tamil Thai Vazhthu,” the Tamil invocation song, during the recent swearing-in ceremony of the new government in the state.
Fresh remarks revive earlier controversy
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s latest comments on Sanatana Dharma immediately reignited political debate due to the intense controversy surrounding his earlier statements made in 2023.
At that time, his remarks had triggered protests and criticism from several political parties and pro-Hindu organisations, with opponents accusing him of hurting religious sentiments.
Multiple court cases and complaints had also been filed against the DMK leader following his earlier speech, where he had compared Sanatana Dharma to diseases that should be eradicated.
On Tuesday, while speaking in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi again argued that Sanatana Dharma promoted social divisions and therefore should be abolished.
The remarks are expected to trigger fresh political reactions both within Tamil Nadu and at the national level.
Objection over Tamil Thai Vazhthu protocol
A significant portion of Udhayanidhi’s speech focused on the importance of “Tamil Thai Vazhthu,” the Tamil invocation song traditionally played at official state functions.
The DMK leader alleged that during the recent swearing-in ceremony of the new government, the Tamil invocation song was pushed to the third position in the order of events instead of receiving its customary priority.
He described the incident as unacceptable and said the opposition would strongly resist any future attempts to alter established protocol.
“Such an incident should not happen again in this Assembly. We will not permit it,” he said during his speech.
Udhayanidhi further asserted that Tamil Thai Vazhthu must always receive primary importance not only inside the Assembly but at all government functions and official events conducted in Tamil Nadu.
Calls for protecting Tamil identity and traditions
The Leader of the Opposition emphasised the need to remain vigilant in protecting Tamil identity, linguistic pride and cultural traditions.
He reminded the Assembly about earlier instances in which the previous DMK government had reportedly opposed attempts by the Governor to alter official ceremonial protocol involving the Tamil invocation song.
According to Udhayanidhi, any deviation from established practices concerning Tamil Thai Vazhthu causes emotional distress among the people of the state.
Political observers noted that the issue carries significant symbolic importance in Tamil Nadu politics, where language and regional identity continue to play a central role in public discourse.
Opposition to function as ‘constructive force’
During his speech, Udhayanidhi Stalin also outlined the role the opposition intends to play in the current Assembly.
Referring to DMK founder and former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai, he described the opposition as essential for maintaining democratic balance and accountability.
Drawing comparisons used by Annadurai, he said the opposition functions like the brakes of a vehicle or the reins controlling a bull, helping guide governance in the public interest.
The DMK leader stated that despite sitting on opposite benches, the opposition would aim to function as a constructive and responsible force rather than adopting a purely confrontational approach.
He also pointed out that the opposition’s numerical strength in the current Assembly is now nearly equal to that of the ruling side.
Reference to Loyola College draws attention
In a lighter moment during the speech, Udhayanidhi noted that he, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Speaker JCD Prabhakar were all alumni of Loyola College.
However, he jokingly remarked that the DMK remained the “senior batch” in terms of political experience.
The remark drew attention amid the changing political landscape in Tamil Nadu following the recent Assembly elections and emergence of new political alignments.
Commitment to Dravidian model reiterated
Reaffirming the DMK’s ideological stand, Udhayanidhi said the opposition would continue to uphold the principles of the “Dravidian model” and monitor the government’s performance closely.
He stressed that governance should follow the principle of “everything for everyone” and called upon the Speaker to maintain neutrality while allowing the opposition’s voice to be heard effectively inside the Assembly.
Political analysts said the speech served both as an ideological assertion by the DMK and as an attempt to position the party as a strong opposition force in the state Assembly.
The remarks regarding Sanatana Dharma, however, are likely to dominate political discussions and trigger reactions from rival parties and religious organisations in the coming days.