Sanatana Dharma new flashpoint in Guv-DMK face-off

The face-off between the ruling DMK and Governor RN Ravi took another twist on Sunday with the former condemning the latter for his observation on Sanatana Dharma. The DMK, which demanded the recall of Ravi by the Centre a few months ago for delaying the forwarding of the NEET exemption Bill to the President, has advised the Governor not to make statements “unbecoming for his constitutional position” and in violation of his oath

Participating in a private function in the city on Saturday, Governor Ravi had said that Bharat was founded on the principle of Sanatana Dharma. The statement has evoked a strong response from the DMK-led alliance with the parties calling the Governor’s statement communal and unconstitutional. In a statement, DMK treasurer-cum-Parliamentary party leader TR Baalu said, “It is unbecoming of his post to continuously voice views in favour of Sanatana Dharma and against secularism. The Constitution and several Supreme Court verdicts have emphasized that the Governor was bound by the policy decisions of the state government.”

“It is not right on his part to exercise his right to speech, forgetting and violating his limits. It is illegal to air communal views and views endorsing Sanatana Dharma, varnashram and violence while occupying the Governor’s post. It is antithetical to the oath taken by him,” Baalu added.

Though they do not intend to criticise his personal spiritual views, the views of a person holding a post bound by Constitutional laws should conform to it, the DMK treasurer said, taking exception to the Governor’s reported remark that power of Sanatana Dharma could be understood from American bombing reducing to rubble the cities of Kandahar and Peshawar cities, which were developed by Ghazini Mohammed after destroying the properties of Somnath Temple.

Governor is reported to have said that power of Sanatana Dharma could be understood from the US bombing cities of Kandahar and Peshawar

Wondering if the Governor subscribed to bombing, the DMK MP quoted the preamble of the Constitution and said the Governor’s statement was ultra vires the Constitution. It is highly condemnable that a person who should preach secularism was projecting himself as prejudiced towards one religion and publicly inciting acrimony towards another faith.

Baalu further said he was duty-bound to remind the Governor that India is guided by its Constitution and not Sanatana Dharma.

“The rule of Sanatana Dharma is not happening in India. Sanatana Dharma preaches different rules for different castes. But, now the country is going through the rule of law. Everyone is equal before the law. It would augur well for the Governor to read the social and legal changes the country has gone through in the last 200 years and make statements in accordance with it. Sanatana Dharma is against 90 per cent of the people, especially women who account for 50 per cent of the population. Hence, making a statement in support of it is against the majority of people of the country. The Governor should withdraw his comments and vow to not make such statements in future,” Baalu added.

Joining the issue with the DMK, CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan said the Governor who acts as an agent of the Union government is using all podiums for his political rhetoric, which is highly condemnable. State Congress chief KS Alagiri said the Governor has transformed into the propaganda secretary of RSS.