New Delhi [India], January 22 : BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla launched a sharp attack on the DMK following the Madras High Court's decision linked to Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, accusing the ruling party in the southern state of being "anti-Constitutional and anti-Hindu."
Reacting to the court's observations, Poonawalla alleged that the DMK could even consider targeting the judiciary for unfavourable rulings. "The DMK is anti-constitutional and anti-Hindu. I fear that the DMK might even plan to bring an impeachment motion against this judge," he said.
He also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for remaining silent on the issue, questioning his commitment to constitutional values. "But Rahul Gandhi has said nothing about protecting the Constitution. He pretends to be a true Hindu by wearing a sacred thread in court, but he remains silent. We hope that when Thalaiva (Rahul Gandhi) returns from abroad, he will say something about this." Poonawalla added.
The remarks come a day after Poonawalla demanded Udhayanidhi Stalin's removal from his ministerial post and called for legal action against him over his 2023 remarks on Sanatana Dharma. He accused the DMK government of misusing state machinery by pursuing action against BJP IT cell Chief Amit Malviya, instead of acting against Udhayanidhi for what he termed hate speech.
Earlier, the Madras High Court quashed an FIR against Malviya, who had described Udhayanidhi's remarks as a call for genocide. Poonawalla said the court also observed that the DMK leader's statements amounted to hate speech, reflecting what he called the party's "anti-Hindu and anti-Constitutional DNA."
Udhayanidhi's controversial comments were made at a Chennai conference in 2023, where he compared Sanatana Dharma to diseases like dengue and malaria, saying they should be eradicated rather than opposed.
"A few things cannot be opposed but should only be abolished. We can't merely oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or coronavirus. They have to be eradicated. Rather than opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated," he said.