New Delhi (Agency): Arjun Munda, a Union Minister in the Indian government, has sharply criticized Udhayanidhi Stalin, a Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader, for his comments about Sanatan Dharma. Stalin had earlier compared Sanatan Dharma, a spiritual, religious, and social philosophy originating in India, to diseases like dengue and malaria.
Munda said Stalin’s words show a “cheap mentality.” He believes that Sanatan Dharma is not just a religion but something much deeper. Munda stated, “Comparing Sanatana Dharma with the mosquitoes of dengue and malaria shows his cheap mentality.” He explained that Sanatan Dharma is about understanding the essence of existence. “Sanatan is not a religion, it is the point of origin from which we can realize our existence– the realization and acknowledgement of our existence,” said Munda.
Udhayanidhi Stalin had made the controversial remarks on September 2, calling for the ‘eradication’ of Sanatan Dharma. He equated this philosophy with harmful diseases like dengue and malaria. His words attracted immediate criticism, especially from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Arjun Munda went further to call Stalin’s remarks “unfortunate.” He said that equating something as deep and complex as Sanatan Dharma with diseases is not only incorrect but also dangerous. Munda added, “There is eternal nature, earth, sky, earth, which does not come under the ambit of any religion. It is a comprehensive form of understanding life, and how we have been created. If he is talking about ending it, then I understand that he is talking about destroying the earth. It is unfortunate to make such a statement.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin, however, stood firm on his statements. He is the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development in Tamil Nadu, and also the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Despite the backlash, Stalin said he would not back down. He insisted that he had included all religions in his statements, not just Hinduism. “Whatever I said, I’ll repeat the same thing again and again. I included all the religions and not just Hindus. I condemned caste differences, that’s all,” he said.
This public disagreement between Arjun Munda and Udhayanidhi Stalin highlights the sensitivity around religious and philosophical discussions in India, a country with a rich diversity of faiths and ideologies. Sanatan Dharma is a complex philosophy that covers a wide range of beliefs, practices, and traditions. It is deeply ingrained in the cultural and religious fabric of India.
