'I.N.D.I.A formed to abolish Sanatan Dharma': DMK's Ponmudy stokes fresh row

Just days after DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin stoked a row demanding the eradication of Sanatan Dharma, his party colleague K Ponmudy has made a controversial remark, alleging that the I.N.D.I.A alliance was formed with the sole purpose of abolishing the Sanatan Dharma. Ponmudy made the remarks while speaking at the Sanatan Abolition Conference. The DMK leader claimed that all 26 parties of the Opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance were committed to ensuring equality and social justice and were united in fighting against the principles of Sanatan Dharma.

“I.N.D.I.A has been formed to fight against the principles of Santan Dharma, we may have differences but the 26 parties in the alliance are united in the fight against Sanatan Dharma,” said the DMK minister. “We all agree on one point when it comes to abolishing the Sanatan Dharma. We all want the same thing, equality, social justice, protection for the minorities, gender equality.. You and I can only speak on this, but only when we win in politics, we can make sure we can make changes,” he added. 

The minister emphasised that changes can only be brought after the Opposition parties secure victory in elections. 

The video of his speech has now gone viral on social media platforms, eliciting sharp response from the BJP.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai said that the comment has exposed the true face of the I.N.D.I.A alliance. “DMK Minister Thiru Ponmudi reaffirms that the I.N.D.I. alliance was formed on the plank of opposition to Sanatana Dharma. Eradicating Hinduism seems to be a single-point agenda of the parties in the I.N.D.I. alliance. This is the true face of I.N.D.I. alliance. It is also unfortunate that DMK Minister Ponmudy spoke on the stage about creating equity in society and gender equality after having spread caste hatred on an elected women representative in the recent past,” said Annamalai in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

BJP MP from Jaipur and National Spokesperson Rajyavardhan Rathore also mounted an attack on the entire Opposition bloc saying that the alliance has declared a full-scale assault on Hindus. Quoting the DMK minister’s statement, Rathore wrote on X, "He is K. Ponmudy, Higher Education Minister of Tamil Nadu and DMK leader. The Ghamandiya alliance has declared a full-scale assault on Hindus of this country."