Raghav Chadha, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has strongly condemned remarks made by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin concerning Sanatan Dharma. Chadha called Udhayanidhi a “small leader” and stressed the importance of avoiding comments that could provoke religious sentiments.
In an interview with news agency PTI, Chadha responded to criticisms from the BJP directed at the INDIA bloc following Udhayanidhi’s statements. Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin, had accused Sanatan Dharma of promoting division and discrimination among people and called for its eradication.
Chadha, who identifies as a follower of Sanatan Dharma, expressed his opposition to such statements and urged respect for all religions. He emphasized that remarks targeting any religion should be avoided.
The BJP seized on Udhayanidhi’s comments to accuse the INDIA alliance of having a hidden agenda to use Sanatan Dharma for vote bank politics. In response, Chadha clarified that the remarks of an individual leader within a party should not be considered the official stance of the alliance. He underscored that the alliance’s primary focus is on addressing critical issues such as price rises and unemployment facing the country.
The INDIA alliance comprises over two dozen Opposition parties united to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Raghav Chadha is a member of the alliance’s 14-member coordination committee, which plays a pivotal role in decision-making.
When asked about the prime ministerial candidate for the alliance, Chadha clarified that AAP is not in the race for the office of the prime minister. He emphasized the alliance’s commitment to collectively addressing the nation’s challenges. Chadha compared the situation to the 1977 alliance that successfully contested elections against Indira Gandhi without a declared prime ministerial face. He anticipates a similar approach within the INDIA alliance, where a decision on a prime ministerial candidate will be collectively determined.
Sources By Agencies
