Claim
Udhayanidhi Stalin of the INDIA alliance said that Sanatan Dharma divides people, is against equality, and should be completely eradicated.
“इंडिया गठबंधन उदय निधि स्टालिन सनातन धर्म लोगों को बांटता है और समानता के खिलाफ है। इसका समूल नाश होना चाहिए।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
Udhayanidhi Stalin, a leader of the DMK (an INDIA-alliance party), publicly stated on 2 Sept 2023 and reiterated later that Sanatan Dharma divides people, is against equality/social justice, and should be eradicated/rooted out — matching all three elements of the claim. The remarks are well-documented in multiple contemporaneous reports and were the subject of FIRs and a Madras High Court observation. He later clarified his target was the caste system, but the attributed statement itself is factually accurate.
Evidence
- https://www.india.com/tamil-nadu/sanatan-dharma-dengue-malaria-must-be-eradicated-udhayanidhi-stalin-watch-video-sanatan-abolition-conference-dmk-mk-stalin-6284736/ At the September 2, 2023 'Sanatana Abolition Conference', Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK, part of the INDIA alliance) said Sanatan Dharma is like dengue/malaria/corona and must not merely be opposed but 'eradicated' (rooted out / समूल नाश). ✗ unreachable · HTTP 403
- https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/caste-system-that-divides-people-must-be-abolished-udhayanidhi-stalin-clarifies-remark-on-sanatan-dharma-4003738 Stalin stated Sanatan Dharma 'divides people' and is opposed to equality/social justice; he framed his clarification around abolishing the caste system so everyone has equal rights. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://swarajyamag.com/tamil-nadu/hinduism-sanatana-dharma-is-like-malaria-dengue-that-must-be-eradicated-not-merely-opposed-says-dmk-minister-udhayanidhi-stalin Reports his remark that Sanatan Dharma must be eradicated, not merely opposed, and that it is against equality and social justice. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/insight/udhayanidhi-stalin-reignites-sanatan-dharma-row-in-assembly/gm-GM99590A3F Stalin reiterated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that 'Sanatanam, which separated people, should be eradicated', consistent with his 2023 stance; Madras HC earlier observed his 2023 words amounted to hate speech. ✓ reachable · archived