DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin called for the eradication of Sanatan ideology during a speech in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly [1].
The statement highlights a deepening ideological conflict within the state's political landscape, pitting Dravidian identity against traditional religious frameworks. Because the rhetoric targets a widely practiced belief system, the call has sparked immediate political and communal debate.
Speaking in the Chennai assembly, Stalin said that Sanathanam, which separated people, should be eradicated [1]. He said that the ideology serves to divide society and poses a direct threat to Tamil identity [1].
Stalin linked the ideology to social fragmentation, suggesting that removing such influences is necessary to prevent further division among the populace [1]. He challenged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay during the session, framing the issue as a struggle for cultural preservation [2].
The call for the removal of the ideology was delivered as a direct challenge to the state's leadership. Stalin said that "SANATAN MUST BE Eradicated" [2].
Opposition parties have responded to the remarks, viewing the language as provocative. The assembly session became a focal point for the tension between the DMK's social reformist platform and those defending the Sanatan tradition [1], [2].
“"Sanathanam, which separated people, should be eradicated."”
This incident reflects the ongoing tension in Tamil Nadu between the Dravidian movement's focus on rationalism and social equality and the persistence of traditional Hindu frameworks. By framing the ideology as a tool of separation, Stalin is aligning his political position with a historical narrative of liberation from caste-based hierarchies, though the use of the word 'eradicated' elevates the political risk of communal polarization.
