New Delhi:

After his controversial statement on the BJP’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, RSS leader Indresh Kumar attempted to clarify his remarks by saying the polls show that those who opposed Lord Ram have been defeated while those who set the goal of restoring Lord Ram’s glory are in power.

Mr Kumar had sparked a row yesterday by stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was restricted to 240 seats, well below the majority mark, in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls due to its “arrogance”. Speaking at an event near Jaipur on Thursday, Mr Kumar said, “The party which did bhakti of Lord Ram and became arrogant was stopped at 240; however, it became the biggest party.”

“And those who had no faith in Ram were stopped at 234,” he said, referring to the INDIA bloc. “See the ‘Vidhan’ of Ram Rajya in democracy; those who did ‘Bhakti’ of Ram, but gradually turned arrogant, emerged as the biggest party; however, the vote and the power that they should have been given was stopped by God due to arrogance.”

Mr Kumar’s remarks sparked a row. The RSS leader sought to mitigate the damage by clarifying, “The mood of the country is very clear at present. Those who opposed Lord Ram are not in power; those who set the goal to respect Lord Ram are in power and the government has been formed for the third time under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Mr Kumar’s remarks follow RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement a few days ago. Mr Bhagwat had said that a true ‘sevak’ should serve people without arrogance and maintain dignity.

The RSS yesterday sought to quell the suggestions of a rift with the BJP and that Mohan Bhagwat’s recent critical references related to the Lok Sabha polls were aimed at the ruling party, insisting that such claims are just speculation meant to create confusion.

“There is no rift between the RSS and the BJP,” RSS sources said, amid assertions by a section of people, including opposition leaders, that Mr Bhagwat’s remarks, including “true sevak is never arrogant,” were a message to the BJP leadership following its below-par performance in the polls.

“There was not much difference in his (Mr Bhagwat’s) speech from what he had given after the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Any address is bound to make a reference to an event as important as national elections. But it was misinterpreted and taken out of context to create confusion. His ‘arrogance’ remark was never directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi or any BJP leader,” the sources said.

In his speech, Mr Bhagwat had on Monday expressed concern over peace eluding Manipur even after one year of conflict, criticised the common discourse during polls, and called for moving on instead of unnecessary discussion on the what and how of the elections after they were over and results were out.

Opposition leaders had seized on his remarks to take a swipe at the BJP and PM Modi. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had said, “If not the ‘one-third’ Prime Minister’s conscience or the repeated demands of the people of Manipur, perhaps Mr Bhagwat can prevail upon the former RSS office-bearer to go to Manipur.”

Such claims by the opposition leaders are nothing but politics meant to spread confusion, the RSS sources said.

 

Delhi:

Hitting back on Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remark, RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Sunday said that politicians who spread hatred in the country should be restrained.

RSS leader Indresh Kumar said, “It is the formula of humanity, globalism, and democracy that we are a country that is multi-religious. Follow your religion, don’t insult others’ religion and respect it. This is anti-democracy, anti-humanity, anti-God, anti-peace and development and they are anti-prosper nations…Parties and people should stop such politicians so that hatred is not spread in the nation…”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi, on Saturday, addressing the “Santana Abolition Conference,” said, “Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality. He also compared Sanatan Dharma to diseases like dengue, malaria, or the Coronavirus and said, “Few things cannot be opposed; those should be abhorred only. We cannot oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona; we have to eradicate them. That’s how we eradicate Sanatana. Rather than opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated,” he said.

Udhayanidhi has come under massive fire ever since he openly spoke about eradicating Sanatan Dharma. Several BJP leaders have criticised his remark.

Meanwhile, a lawyer for the Supreme Court filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against Udhyanidhi Stalin on Sunday (September 3). The complainant, Vineet Jindal, claimed that Stalin’s son made a provocative, inflammatory, derogatory, and incendiary statement against Sanatam Dharm. “Being a Hindu and Sanatan dharma follower, my religious sentiments are hurt by statements made by Udhayanidhi Stalin calling for eradicating Sanatan dharma,” he said in his complaint.

The complainant further said that Udhayanidhi’s comparison of Sanatan dharma to mosquitoes, dengue, and corona and his remark to eradicate them show his intent of calling for and promoting the genocide of Hindu dharma followers.

Udhayanidhi also took to his X handle on Saturday and wrote, I never called for the genocide of people who are following Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality.”

“I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed and marginalised, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma. I am ready to present the extensive writings of Periyar and Ambedkar, who conducted in-depth research on Sanatan Dharma and its negative impact on society, in any forum,” he wrote on X.

“Let me reiterate the crucial aspect of my speech: I believe, like the spread of diseases like COVID-19, dengue, and malaria by mosquitoes, that Sanatan Dharma is responsible for many social evils. I am prepared to confront any challenges that come my way, whether in a court of law or the people’s court. Stop spreading fake news,” he added.

Reacting to the remarks made by DMK Minister, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo on Sunday said that Sanatana Dharma’ is an established way of life and it should be completely respected adding that remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin on it is a personal opinion of DMK leader.

“This can be his personal opinion. There are lots of religions in the world and any such comment on any religion is personal, everybody has the freedom. ‘Sanatana Dharma’ is an established way of life and a religious expression. It should be respected completely,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP targeted the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over his remarks. Furious over the remarks made by DMK leader Udayanidhi Stalin about ‘Sanatan Dharma’, BJP President JP Nadda on Sunday indirectly attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying ‘Mohabbat ki Dukan’ is spreading hate and asked whether the leaders of the INDIA Bloc are going to use the anti-Hindu strategy in the upcoming elections.

“Is Udayanidhi’s statement a part of the INDIA alliance’s political strategy? Are you going to use this anti-Hindu strategy in the upcoming elections? You have proved multiple times that you hate everything related to our country and your ‘Mohabbat ki Dukan is spreading hate,” he said.

BJP leader Sushil Modi said that DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin has committed an anti-national act by suggesting that ‘Sanatana Dharma should be abolished’ and questioned the silence of prominent leaders of the INDIA alliance on this issue.

“Udhayanidhi Stalin should be detained and jailed. He is spreading hatred in the community. On one side Rahul Gandhi says ‘Nafrat ke bazaar mein Mohabbat ki dukaan’ and on the other side, a major leader of their ally in Tamil Nadu is saying to eradicate ‘Sanatana Dharma’ completely. This is an Anti-national act,” Sushil Modi said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)