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The minister’s comments come amid the Madurai Bench of the Madras HC observing that the deputy CM’s call to “eradicate” Sanatana Dharma carried an implication akin to genocide
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. (Image: PTI/File)
Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday called for the removal of Tamil Nadu’s deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, under fire for his remarks on Sanatan Dharma, for “dividing the people” of the state.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting with NDA ally and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Goyal said: “We totally oppose Udhayanidhi Stalin for his anti-national comments. The high court has also passed orders against his hate speech. I demand that Udhayanidhi be immediately removed from the government for dividing the people of Tamil Nadu.”
The minister’s comments come amid the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently observing that the deputy chief minister’s call to “eradicate” Sanatana Dharma carried an implication akin to genocide.
“If a group of people following Sanatana Dharma should not be there, then the appropriate word is “genocide”. If Sanatana Dharma is a religion then it is “Religicide”. It also means to eradicate the people by following any methods or various methods with diverse attacks on ecocide, factocide, culturicide (cultural genocide). Therefore, the Tamil phrase “Sanathana Ozhippu” would clearly mean genocide or culturicide,” Bar and Bench said, quoting the court as saying.
The case was over a speech delivered by Stalin on September 2, 2023, at a conference titled “Sanatan Abolition Conference”, organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association. In his address, Stalin drew an analogy between Sanatana Dharma and diseases such as dengue, malaria and Covid-19, saying certain things cannot merely be resisted but must be eradicated.
POLL MODE ON
Meanwhile, Goyal—who is also the state’s election in-charge in view of the upcoming polls—said he had brought the good wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Palaniswami. “I’m confident that under the leadership and guidance of Modi-ji at the Centre and EPS-ji in the state, we will completely throw out the incompetent govt of the DMK which has done nothing for the welfare of Tamil Nadu.”
The minister met Palaniswami for a meeting at his residence, the agenda of which is expected to focus on finalising seat-sharing arrangements between the BJP and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
To bolster the alliance’s chances in the upcoming polls, PM Modi will hold a public meeting in Maduranthakam, Tamil Nadu’s Chengalpattu district, on January 23.
The NDA bloc received a shot in the arm on Wednesday Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and TTV Dhinakaran returned to the fold, with Palaniswami describing the move as a step towards defeating the DMK and restoring what he called the “golden era” of governance in Tamil Nadu.
In a post on X, Palaniswami said: “To uproot the tyrannical rule of the DMK with its evil forces and bring an end to dynasty politics, and to reestablish in Tamil Nadu the golden era of governance of the esteemed revolutionary leader Amma, I warmly welcome with affection Mr. @TTVDhinakaran, the General Secretary of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, who has joined the National Democratic Alliance today, and convey to him my heartfelt best wishes. With people’s welfare as our sole goal, let us all unite as one to free #the_people_from_peril, #redeem_Tamil_Nadu from the clutches of the DMK family rule!”
January 22, 2026, 10:39 IST
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