Why not ask Udhay, A Raja to apologise for Sanatana remarks, BJP asks Stalin

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Wednesday asked if DMK president MK Stalin has asked party leaders who had spoken against Sanatana Dharma also to apologise after its MP DNV Senthilkumar expressed regret in Lok Sabha for referring to Hindi heartland states in a derogatory manner in the House.

Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also slammed the “silence” of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the “repeated objectionable remarks about Sanatana Dharma.”

“I heard TR Baalu say today that Chief Minister Stalin has told MP Senthilkumar to not make such statements. But, there is a question that has to be asked to Baalu and (MK) Stalin. What about Udhayanidhi Stalin’s statement? Has he (Stalin) advised Udhayanidhi to apologise? What about A Raja? Has he (DMK chief) advised A Raja to apologise?” the BJP leader asked.

“Why can’t Stalin apologise?” he said and alleged that the opposition INDIA bloc parties have started a “new chapter of divisive politics” with north-south divide remarks as their efforts to drive a wedge on religious lines for votes did not work in the just-concluded Assembly polls.

The BJP will “firmly oppose” such politics played by the Congress and other members of the “INDI Alliance,” Chandrasekhar said.

“People of the country will also totally oppose such politics and expose them,” he said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters.

Senthilkumar had on Tuesday used a pejorative to describe Hindi heartland states while attacking the ruling BJP. The comments led to a ruckus and adjournment in the House and were expunged by Speaker Om Birla.

BJP leaders had decried his remarks as “hate speech “ and said the voters will “wipe out “ the INDIA bloc from southern India as well in the next elections. Facing flak, the DMK MP had later apologised.

“Commenting on the results of the five recent state Assembly elections, I have used a word in an inappropriate way. Not using that term with any intent, I apologise for sending the wrong meaning across,” Senthilkumar said in a post on X.

On Wednesday, he expressed regret in Lok Sabha, but the BJP stepped up its attack on the INDIA bloc. Chandrasekhar said, “After three state results, a new chapter of divisive politics has been started by the Congress and ‘INDI Alliance.’

“First they play divisive politics on the lines of religion. Their (Congress) ally Udhayanidhi Stalin says Sanatana is dengue and malaria. Then the DMK’s 2G scam architect and visionary A Raja says Sanatana Dharma is equal to leprosy, HIV.”

During the elections, the row over some DMK leaders’ remarks against Sanatana Dharma had been latched on by the BJP to target the Congress. “After all these failed, they started the north-south divide strategy yesterday. Rahul Gandhi’s new cronies started north and south (divide) and BJP-mukt south (narrative). And, such foolishness (when) the BJP has its MLAs and MPs in the south,” the Minister added.

“We will firmly oppose it. And people of the country will totally oppose such politics and expose them,” he noted.