“You abuse your rights under freedom of speech and expression and then come to the Supreme Court for protection under Article 32? Don’t you know the consequences of what you said,” the apex court said.
You’re not a layman: SC to Udhayanidhi over his remark on Sanatan Dharma
The Supreme Court on Monday questioned Tamil Nadu Minister Udaynidhi Stalin over his remarks calling for the eradication of ‘Sanatana Dharma’ and told him that he is “not a layman but a minister”.
A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Stalin that the DMK leader was not a layman but a minister and he should know the consequences of his remarks.
The bench said, “You abuse your rights under freedom of speech and expression and right to freedom of religion and then come to the Supreme Court for protection under Article 32? Don’t you know the consequences of what you said?”
Advertisement
Stalin approached the top court seeking the clubbing of multiple FIRs registered against him in several states over his remarks.
Singhvi sought relief from the top court to club all the FIRs, saying FIRs are registered in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, and Maharashtra.
Singhvi, during the hearing, relied on the cases of Arnab Goswami, Nupur Sharma, Mohd Zubair, and Amish Devgan where the top court had agreed to club FIRs. “If I have to move six High Courts, I will constantly be tied up in this… This is persecution before the prosecution.”
To this, the bench commented, “You are not a layman. You are a minister. You should know the consequences.”
The bench then posted the matter for hearing on March 15.
DMK leader Stalin made the remarks comparing ‘Sanatana Dharma’ to diseases like ‘malaria’ and ‘dengue’ while advocating for its elimination on grounds that it was rooted in the caste system and historical discrimination.
His remarks triggered a massive political controversy across the country. It led to several criminal complaints being filed against him.
Advertisement
