From Sanatana row to alleged remarks against Trisha: The many controversies of Udhayanidhi Stalin

Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Tamil Nadu opposition leader and DMK member, has faced numerous controversies throughout his political career. Recently, he was detained for allegedly making disparaging remarks about actor Trisha Krishnan. However, this is not the first time his statements have caused a stir.

In 2023, Stalin sparked controversy by stating that Sanatana Dharma promotes caste and gender discrimination. He compared the belief to diseases like malaria and dengue at a writers' conference in Chennai. His stance was reiterated during a speech in the Tamil Nadu assembly, where he emphasized the need to focus on systemic social hierarchy rather than individual faiths.

This led to allegations of hate speech and a "cultural genocide of Hindus" from BJP and Hindu groups. The DMK leader clarified that his aim was to dismantle an "oppressive ideological framework," but he faced legal repercussions as well, with the Supreme Court and Madras High Court criticizing him for hate speech.

Stalin's remarks on Sanskrit, described as a "dead language," also drew criticism. In November 2025, he made this statement in opposition to the central government's funding and promotion of Hindi and Sanskrit. The BJP condemned his comments, stating that calling a language dead is inappropriate as it remains alive through daily prayers and cultural rituals.

In March 2026, Stalin suggested that Dravidian ideology and Islam are fundamentally the same, making a dig at the BJP and stating that the DMK will continue to support the Muslim community despite BJP attempts to create trouble. These remarks have been criticized by the BJP as minority appeasement.