The Bharatiya Janata Party has called for the immediate resignation of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin following the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court’s decision to dismiss the FIR against BJP leader Amit Malviya. A spokesperson for the Tamil Nadu BJP unit stated that the court ruling has highlighted Udhayanidhi Stalin’s unsuitability to hold public office.
The High Court’s judgment supports the BJP’s stance that lawful criticism of provocative statements should not be treated as a criminal offense. It also emphasizes that using law enforcement to stifle dissent is not acceptable under judicial scrutiny. The court’s order, dated January 20, revoked the criminal case against Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT Department National In-Charge, for a social media post responding to Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments on Sanatana Dharma.
According to the court, Malviya’s reaction did not amount to a criminal act, and it criticized the FIR as an abuse of legal procedures. The BJP spokesperson highlighted Udhayanidhi Stalin’s past remarks at a conference in September 2023, where he allegedly spoke negatively about Sanatana Dharma. The BJP views these statements as offensive to the sentiments of millions and as hate speech against a religion followed by a large section of Indians.
The spokesperson emphasized that a minister, bound by the Constitution, should not disparage any religion publicly. Such actions, he argued, violate constitutional principles and the ministerial oath. Referring to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the spokesperson noted that laws against promoting enmity and insulting religious beliefs aim to maintain social harmony, not protect high-ranking officials.
The BJP representative stressed that the High Court’s ruling underscores the accountability of public figures for their statements. He stated that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s continuation in office could harm public trust, strain social cohesion, and undermine the state’s secular fabric. The demand for resignation, he concluded, is not just political but a constitutional and moral imperative for upholding democratic values and national unity.
