Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Minister from Tamil Nadu, has received a summons from a Karnataka court, compelling him to present himself in response to remarks he made about Sanatana Dharma last year.

The son of Chief Minister MK Stalin and State Sports Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin, has been summoned to appear before the Karnataka representative court on March 4. This summons is in connection with his controversial comments that associated Sanatana Dharma with dengue and malaria, leading to a significant public outcry.

The matter escalated into a major discussion point in the lead-up to the assembly elections in five states last year. The BJP raised the issue, particularly against the INDIA Alliance, of which the DMK is a constituent.

A private complaint against Junior Stalin was filed by an individual named Paramesh. In response to this, Mr. Stalin, aged 46, defended his statement and expressed his commitment to address the issue through legal means.

"There was nothing wrong in what I had spoken. We will face the matter legally. I will not change my stand. I have only talked about my ideology," he told reporters last year.

Sanatan Dharma is viewed differently in Tamil Nadu as a doctrine that perpetuates caste discrimination against oppressed communities for ages, denying education and dignity.

Strongly opposed by the rationalist icon Periyar, this perspective has played a significant role in enabling the DMK to accrue political capital. The party has championed the cause of backward classes, utilizing social justice as a powerful platform.

Udhayanidhi Stalin subsequently clarified the context in which he made his statements. He pointed out the perceived injustice, citing the example of President Murmu, who belongs to a tribal community and was allegedly not invited to the inauguration of the new parliament by Prime Minister Modi for similar reasons, according to his viewpoint.