Chennai - The Legal Rights Observatory, on Monday, September 4, has issued a legal notice to Chennai Police, urging them to take legal action against Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in relation to his statement regarding Sanatan Dharma.
The notice specifically requested the Greater Chennai Police to exercise Suo Motu cognizance of potential offenses under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 298, and 505, and to proceed with the arrest of the DMK leader.
The legal notice argued that Udhayanidhi's statement aimed to foster animosity among different religious groups and emphasized that he not only made these remarks during a seminar but also reiterated them in a tweet, confirming his intent.
It further stated, "The accused, being a person in a position of responsibility, committed the offense with a clear intention of causing offense to the religious sentiments of the Sanatani population in the country, and he reaffirmed this intention in his tweet. Therefore, it is evident that the crime was committed with a deliberate intent to engage in hate speech and offend the religious sentiments of the Sanatani community, including my client."
The Legal Rights Observatory highlighted that the Supreme Court has issued explicit directives regarding the registration of Suo Motu FIRs in cases involving hate speech, regardless of the offender's status. The notice also emphasized that the police should not wait for a formal complaint to register such cases.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, who holds the Youth Welfare portfolio in the Tamil Nadu government, faced controversy over his statement in which he claimed that 'Sanatan Dharma' opposes equality and social justice and should be eradicated. These remarks sparked strong reactions from the BJP nationwide, with some leaders alleging that it amounted to a call for genocide and others demanding that Udayanidhi be charged with treason. In response, the Tamil Nadu minister dismissed the genocidal interpretation and explained that his speech was intended to address social issues.