An FIR has been registered against Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Priyank Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, for allegedly inciting religious fervour.
They were charged with violating Sections 295A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertain to premeditated acts causing outrage to religious sensibilities and inciting animosity between religious communities.
Lawyers Harsh Gupta and Ram Singh Lodhi filed the complaint that led to this FIR, citing media reports of Udhayanidhi Stalin's words as the foundation for their case.
Udhayanidhi Stalin has been under fire for remarks he made on a Saturday in which he stated that Sanatana Dharma should not just be fought but annihilated.
The issue over Udhayanidhi Stalin's words has sowed discord in India's political scene.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called his remarks "unadulterated hate speech."
Members of the Opposition INDIA alliance, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Aam Aadmi Party, on the other hand, distanced themselves from Udhayanidhi Stalin, expressing their disagreement with his remarks on Sanatana Dharma.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her appreciation for Sanatana Dharma and emphasised the necessity of refraining from statements that may offend religious feelings.
Congress lawmaker Karan Singh also criticised Udhayanidhi Stalin's statement, saying it was wrong and contradicted the rich Tamil culture that he values.
Udhayanidhi Stalin and Priyank Kharge are entangled in a judicial battle over alleged religiously insensitive remarks, creating a nationwide debate on free expression, religious tolerance, and responsible political discourse.
This episode has caused a schism in the political scene, with some parties criticising the remarks and others avoiding the topic.
In India, the situation is still a source of considerable discussion and debate.
