News Desk – In a major development, the Madras High Court on Wednesday said that Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s 2023 remarks on Sanatana Dharma amount to hate speech.
The Madurai Bench of the court made strong observations and said there has been a “clear attack on Hinduism” by the Dravidian movement for the past 100 years, and that Udhayanidhi belongs to the same ideological tradition.
The court also expressed concern that people who start hate speech often go unpunished, while those who react to such statements face legal action.
“It is painful to see that those who begin hate speech are often let free, while those who respond are punished,” the court said.
Court Points Out No Case in Tamil Nadu
The High Court noted that no case has been registered against Udhayanidhi Stalin in Tamil Nadu for his remarks, even though cases were filed in some other states.
What Udhayanidhi Had Said
In September 2023, Udhayanidhi Stalin had sparked a huge political controversy by comparing Sanatana Dharma to diseases like dengue, malaria and coronavirus.
He said, “Some things should not be opposed but destroyed. We don’t oppose dengue or malaria, we eradicate them. Similarly, Sanatana should be eradicated.”
He also said Sanatana Dharma goes against social justice and equality and supports caste divisions.
Court Says His Words Mean ‘Genocide’
The High Court said the words used by Udhayanidhi clearly suggest genocide.
The court explained that saying Sanatana Dharma should be “eradicated” means the people who follow it should not exist, which is equal to genocide or cultural destruction.
“If Sanatana Dharma is considered a religion, this would mean ‘religicide’. The Tamil phrase used by the minister clearly points to genocide or cultural destruction,” the court said.
The court also said that questioning such a speech does not amount to hate speech.
Udhayanidhi’s Stand
Udhayanidhi Stalin later said he stood by his remarks but claimed he did not mean violence against people who follow Sanatana Dharma.
Supreme Court Earlier Refused to Interfere
In January 2025, the Supreme Court refused to hear petitions seeking criminal action against Udhayanidhi over these remarks.
Political Impact
The High Court’s remarks come at a sensitive time, as Tamil Nadu is heading towards Assembly elections later this year, and the political atmosphere is already heated.
