Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin walks out after a meeting of DMK district secretaries in Chennai on May 14, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI
DMK youth wing leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Thursday (May 14, 2026) that the “destruction of Sanatana” does not mean that people should stop going to temples.
Responding to criticism of his Tamil Nadu Assembly speech on Wednesday (May 13, 2026), where he said, “Sanatana, which divides people, should be destroyed,” Mr. Udhayanidhi insisted that he would not be cowed by such criticism.
“The Dravidian movement faced opposition and emerged stronger,” he said.
Mr. Udhayanidhi said that equal rights should be given to all, not only in temples but in society as a whole.
“I only said that what divides people into upper castes and lower castes should be destroyed. I only echoed the views of Periyar EV Ramasamy (social reformer), BR Ambedkar (architect of Indian constitution) and CN Annadurai (former chief minister),” he said.
Published – 15 May 2026 01:00 IST
