In response to the continuing debate over Sanatan Dharma, actor-politician Kamal Haasan stated his position, arguing that minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has a right to express his opinions on the subject.Haasan makes his point“If you disagree with his viewpoint, it is important to engage in a discussion based on the merits of Sanatan instead of resorting to threats of violence or legal intimidation tactics or distorting his words to evoke emotional responses for narrow political gains.”The hallmark of a true democracy is the ability of its citizens to disagree and engage in continued discussion. History has repeatedly taught us that asking the right questions has led to important answers and contributed to our development as a better society.@Udhaystalin is…— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) September 7, 2023 Kamal Haasan spoke for the first time about the subject, which has gained national attention after the BJP challenged the DMK to use it as a campaign issue.The tamil nadu minister said he will defend himself legally against the numerous complaints that have been brought against Udhayanidhi. In a new statement on Thursday, Udhay expressed amazement at the Ayodhya seer Acharya Paramhands announcement of a 10-crore prize for beheading Udhayanidhi and questioned how a seer could have 20 crores on hand.Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan said, “The hallmark of a true democracy is the ability of its citizens to disagree and engage in continued discussion. History has repeatedly taught us that asking the right questions has led to important answers and contributed to our development as a better society.”“Tamil Nadu has always been a safe space for healthy debates, and it will continue to remain so. It is crucial to critically evaluate our traditions, ensuring inclusivity, equality, and progress. Lets embrace constructive discussions to foster a harmonious and inclusive society,” Kamal Haasan added.More on Stalins controversial statementUdhayanidhis comparison of Sanatan Dharma to dengue and malaria sparked another political scuffle, with Udhayas father and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin weighing in on the subject. Stalin criticised PM Modi for making statements on the subject before being aware of what Udhayanidhi had truly said. Stalin cited rumors that PM Modi had told his ministers to respond appropriately to the Sanatan controversy.Stand of the I.N.D.I.A partiesThough numerous Congress officials, including Karti Chidambaram and Priyank Kharge, stated their personal sentiments on Udhayanidhis statement, the Congress, AAP, Trinamool, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) distanced themselves from the controversy. On Thursday, DMK MP A Raja added fuel to the fire by claiming that Udhayanidhis comparison of Sanatan to diseases stigmatised by societal stigma, such as AIDS and leprosy, rather than only dengue and malaria, was mild.
