DMK says Governor’s remarks on Sanatana Dharma goes against the Constitution

Murasoli editorial urges Madurai Aadheenam to use caution while making statements

The DMK on Sunday condemned Governor R.N. Ravi ‘s comments on Santana Dharma and said they were in contravention of the Constitution and against 90% of India’s population.

In a statement, DMK treasurer and MP T.R. Baalu said the Governor had said it was “Sanatana Dharma which had built this Bharat [India]” and spoken about Americans bombing Kandahar and Peshawar.

“These statements are not good for the constitutional position he holds... Who is the Governor trying to guide,” Mr. Baalu asked. He felt that Mr. Ravi’s speech was an attempt to tear down the Constitution’s founding principles.

“A person who should propagate secular principles is acting in favour of a particular community and making comments against other communities and is, in fact, instigating violence against them in a public forum,” he said.

According to him, the Governor citing examples of Americans bombing certain cities was an attempt to create internal disturbances in the country and there was a suspicion that the Governor was making these statements to spark fear in the State.

Mr. Baalu said the Sanatana Dharma promoted separate rules for every community, while “everyone is equal before law and there are no differences”. The Governor should not make such statements in the future, he said.

DMK mouthpiece Murasoli, in a commentary on Sunday, hit out at the Madurai Aadheenam, “reminding” him of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s action against the Kanchi Sankaracharya. The editorial said Jayalalithaa not only arrested Sri Jayendra Saraswathi but also took several steps “to defame him”. (The seer was acquitted by the court.)