TN BJP Urges Udhayanidhi Stalin to Resign, Cites Constitutional and Moral Lapses
Party says Madras High Court verdict quashing FIR against Amit Malviya exposes Deputy CM’s unfitness for public office
Tamil Nadu, Jan 22 : The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday called for the immediate resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, asserting that the recent Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court verdict quashing the FIR against BJP IT chief Amit Malviya “constitutionally and morally exposes” him.
A.N.S. Prasad, the BJP spokesperson in Tamil Nadu, said the High Court judgment validates the party’s long standing stance that lawful criticism of inflammatory remarks cannot be criminalised and that misuse of police machinery to suppress dissent will not withstand judicial scrutiny.
The court, in its January 20 order, dismissed the criminal case against Malviya, which was filed over a social media post responding to Stalin’s controversial comments on Sanatana Dharma. Justice S. Srimathy observed that Malviya’s post did not constitute a criminal offence and described the FIR as a “gross abuse of the legal process.”
Prasad highlighted Stalin’s own remarks at a September 2023 conference, in which he allegedly called for “eradicating” Sanatana Dharma and compared the faith to communicable diseases such as malaria, dengue, and coronavirus. The BJP argued that these statements deeply hurt the religious sentiments of millions and amounted to hate speech against a major religion.
“The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, equality before the law, and harmony among communities. A minister who has sworn to uphold the Constitution cannot demean or target any faith,” Prasad said. He added that Stalin’s remarks violated constitutional morality and the oath of office, noting that legal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) are meant to protect social harmony, not shield high-ranking officials from accountability.
Calling the matter above political considerations, Prasad said continued tenure of the Deputy Chief Minister could erode public trust, strain social cohesion, and harm the secular fabric of the State. “Resignation is not merely a political demand; it is a constitutional and moral imperative,” he asserted, urging Udhayanidhi Stalin to step down immediately in the interest of democratic values and public harmony.
