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Chennai, Jan 22 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, citing the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court verdict quashing the FIR against BJP leader Amit Malviya.

In a statement, A.N.S. Prasad, spokesperson of the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP, said the High Court’s ruling has “constitutionally and morally exposed” Udhayanidhi Stalin’s unfitness to continue in public office.

He asserted that the judgment vindicates the BJP’s long-held position that lawful criticism of inflammatory remarks cannot be criminalised and that the misuse of police machinery to silence dissent will not stand judicial scrutiny.

The Madurai Bench, in its order dated January 20, set aside the criminal case registered against Amit Malviya, National In-Charge of the BJP’s IT Department, for a social media post reacting to remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sanatana Dharma.

Justice S. Srimathy observed that Malviya’s response did not constitute any criminal offence and termed the FIR a gross abuse of the legal process.

Prasad said the verdict brings renewed focus on the Deputy Chief Minister’s own statements made at a conference in September 2023, where he spoke of “eradicating” Sanatana Dharma and compared it to communicable diseases such as malaria, dengue and coronavirus. According to the BJP, these remarks deeply hurt the religious sentiments of millions of citizens and amounted to hate speech directed at a faith followed by a vast majority of Indians.

“The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, equality before the law, and mandates harmony among all communities. A minister who has sworn to uphold the Constitution cannot publicly demean or target any religion,” Prasad said.

He added that such utterances violate constitutional morality and the oath of office taken by ministers. The BJP spokesperson further pointed out that provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to promotion of enmity and deliberate insult to religious beliefs are intended to protect social harmony, not to shield those holding high office.

He argued that the High Court’s decision reinforces the legitimacy of holding public figures accountable for their words.

Stating that the issue transcends partisan politics, Prasad said Udhayanidhi Stalin’s continuation in office would further erode public confidence, strain social harmony, and damage the secular fabric of the State. “Resignation is not a political demand alone; it is a constitutional and moral necessity,” he said, calling on the Deputy Chief Minister to step down immediately in the interest of democratic values and national harmony.

--IANS

aal/dpb