Over 260 citizens, including former High Court judges and bureaucrats, have written to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, urging him to take cognisance of DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s call for the eradication of Sanatan Dharma.

In a letter to the CJI, the signatories, including former Delhi High Court judge SN Dhingra, said not only did Stalin make a hate speech, but he also refused to apologise for his remarks.

“We the undersigned are deeply concerned with these remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin. These remarks undeniably amount to hate speech against a large population of India and strikes at the very core of the Constitution of India which envisages Bharat as a secular nation,” the letter reads.

“The rule of law has been undermined with the State Government of Tamil Nadu refusing to take any action against Udhayanidhi Stalin and rather choosing to justify his remarks,” it adds.

“We urge the Supreme Court to take the suo moto notice of contempt, ensuring accountability for the inaction of the State Government of Tamil Nadu, and take decisive steps to prevent the inducement of hate speech, preserving public order and peace and we request you to take immediate appropriate actions.” the letter further states.

“We sincerely hope for the thoughtful consideration of our plea and implore immediate measures to ensure justice and rule of law to prevail,” it adds.

On Saturday, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Youth Welfare Minister in MK Stalin’s cabinet in Tamil Nadu, had said that Sanatana Dharma is like malaria and dengue and so it must be eradicated and not merely opposed.