The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a directive that no fresh First Information Reports (FIRs) should be filed against Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M Udhayanidhi Stalin in relation to his controversial remarks about “eradicating Sanatan Dharma.” The order, handed down by a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, also reinforced an interim order that protects Stalin from any coercive actions in the ongoing cases sparked by his comments.
During a conference in September 2023, Stalin, a prominent leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), made headlines with his critical statement that ‘Sanatan Dharma,’ a term referring to a traditional Hindu religious order, opposes social justice and equality and thus should be “eradicated.” He controversially compared ‘Sanatan Dharma’ to diseases like coronavirus, malaria, and dengue, stating that it should be destroyed.
These remarks led to a flurry of FIRs being registered against him in various states across India, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Jammu, and Karnataka. The cases have sparked significant debate and stirred political and communal reactions throughout the country.
