Fresh row over Udhayanidhi's call to eradicate Sanatan Dharma: BJP slams 'secular' CM Vijay for keeping mum, details
Vijay, who claims that he stands for all religions and for everyone, should have condemned those remarks on the floor of the Assembly itself, BJP leader said.
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On Thursday, BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy slammed DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin and CM Vijay for calling and silently supporting the call to eradicate Sanatan Dharma, respectively. Thirupathy stated that CM Vijay should have responded right there, condemning the remarks by Stalin if he claims that he stands for all religions and for everyone.
"Udhayanidhi Stalin wanted to provoke and instigate CM Vijay, and intentionally create an issue out of this. That is why, with malafide intentions, he started this controversy. Vijay should have clarified the matter on that very day, or at least the day before yesterday, by stating that the Opposition leader should not have spoken against any religion," the BJP leader said.
However, in the given case, Vijay’s silence showed ideological softness toward DMK-style “anti-Sanatan” politics, though TVK itself has not officially endorsed the BJP’s position. Online discussions around his cautious political style have grown since the incident.
"Udhayanidhi Stalin wanted to provoke and instigate CM Vijay, and intentionally create an issue out of this. That is why, with malafide intentions, he started this controversy. Vijay should have clarified the matter on that very day, or at least the day before yesterday, by stating that the Opposition leader should not have spoken against any religion," the BJP leader said.
"Vijay, who claims that he stands for all religions and for everyone, should have condemned those remarks on the floor of the Assembly itself, which he failed to do yesterday," he added.
VIDEO | Chennai: BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy says, “Udhayanidhi Stalin wanted to provoke and instigate CM Vijay, and intentionally create an issue out of this. That is why, with malafide intentions, he started this controversy. Vijay should have clarified the matter on that… pic.twitter.com/q0r3QBTWPw
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 14, 2026
This is two days after DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated his ideological opposition to Sanatan Dharma during discussions surrounding the new Tamil Nadu Assembly session. "Sanatan Dharma, which separated people, must be eradicated," he said. During this, CM Vijay could be seen silently listening to the statement, which triggered controversy on social media.
BJP leader Amit Malviya said, “The last time Udhayanidhi Stalin spoke about 'eradicating' Sanatan Dharma, the courts called it hate speech, and the people of Tamil Nadu pushed his party into the opposition. This time, he may be hiding behind the immunity that the legislature provides him, but some lines cannot be crossed without consequence. Mocking and targeting the faith of millions is not political courage; it is arrogance."
BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam said it was not the Sanatan Dharma but the DMK that was eradicated because of such remarks by Stalin. “Because of these speeches of yours, it was the @arivalayam which got eradicated from Tamilnadu. Sanathan Dharma and its values will live on till the last human breathes on the planet,” he wrote.
One of the netizens pointed out, "Today, Udhayanidhi Stalin once again said, 'Sanatana must be eradicated.” But what stood out even more was that Joseph Vijay did not oppose the statement at all - instead, he greeted Stalin respectfully with folded hands. If Udhayanidhi had said “Christianity must be eradicated,” would Vijay have remained silent? For many people, Vijay’s silence today will only strengthen the belief that he, too, is against the Sanatana religion."
Today, Udhayanidhi stalin once again said, “Sanatana must be eradicated.”
— Amit Kumar Sindhi (@AMIT_GUJJU) May 12, 2026
But what stood out even more was that Joseph Vijay did not oppose the statement at all - instead, he greeted Stalin respectfully with folded hands.
If Udhayanidhi had said “Christianity must be… pic.twitter.com/No6pv9hnoP
"Isn’t it criminal to speak about eradicating 'Sanatan' in a State Assembly? Shocked to see the new CM, Mr. Joseph, folding his hands when the LOP says that "Sanatana must be eradicated". But who to blame if 82% Hindus of Tamil Nadu don't stand up & some of them have replaced Ranganath with Joseph," another one said.
Isn’t it criminal to speak about eradicating "Sanatan" in a State Assembly? Shocked to see the new CM, Mr. Joseph folding his hands when the LOP says that "Sanatana must be eradicated". But whom to blame if 82% Hindus of Tamil Nadu don't stand up & some of them have replaced… pic.twitter.com/k6P4NE0C8O
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) May 12, 2026
It is important to note that as of now, TVK and its leader, CM Vijay, are walking on the path of 'secularism'. It has occasionally taken positions that overlap with BJP narratives on certain cultural or governance issues and has also criticized both Dravidian majors, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
However, in the given case, Vijay’s silence showed ideological softness toward DMK-style “anti-Sanatan” politics, though TVK itself has not officially endorsed the BJP’s position. Online discussions around his cautious political style have grown since the incident.