Tamil Nadu’s political arena heated up Thursday as BJP demanded Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin step down, citing a Madras High Court order that dismissed an FIR against their IT cell head Amit Malviya. The decision underscores Stalin’s alleged disrespect toward Hindu beliefs, reigniting a firestorm from his past statements.
Spokesperson ANS Prasad described the verdict as a damning exposure of Stalin’s unsuitability for office. He pointed to Stalin’s 2023 conference speech equating Sanatan Dharma with deadly infections – malaria, dengue, COVID – and urging its abolition, which BJP says deeply hurt millions of devotees.
On January 20, the Madurai Bench, led by Justice S. Srimathi, annulled the criminal case, ruling Malviya’s rebuttal on social media was no offense but a legitimate response. The judge slammed the FIR as an abuse of the legal system meant to suppress criticism.
Prasad reiterated BJP’s stance: inflammatory rhetoric by leaders cannot be shielded from scrutiny, nor can dissent be crushed via state machinery. ‘The Constitution enshrines religious liberty and equality; no oath-bound minister can violate this by insulting a major faith,’ he asserted.
The high court’s intervention strengthens the case for holding public officials accountable, Prasad noted. With DMK’s Stalin under fire, this could signal shifting dynamics in Tamil Nadu’s BJP-DMK rivalry. Resignation, he emphasized, transcends politics – it’s a moral necessity to restore public trust and uphold constitutional values.