Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
An old video of former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has resurfaced on social media amid the latest political row over Sanatana Dharma remarks made by Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin.
In the viral clip, recorded in 2023, Annamalai is seen responding strongly to Udhayanidhi Stalin’s earlier criticism of Sanatana Dharma. During the interaction, the BJP leader said he would gift a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Udhayanidhi Stalin and urged him to “read it properly” to understand the meaning of Sanatana Dharma.
A resurfaced 2023 video shows K Annamalai defining Sanatana Dharma as a philosophy of duty and equality predating Christianity and Islam. Annamalai argued against caste discrimination, criticized the Aryan-Dravidian theory, and referenced B. R. Ambedkar in response to Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks.
Annamalai, in the video, described Sanatana Dharma as a philosophy centred on duty, equality and respect for all human beings. He argued that it opposed discrimination and caste rigidity, while also claiming that distortions of the caste system emerged later in history.
The former BJP state chief further stated that Sanatana Dharma existed long before the rise of Christianity and Islam. He also criticised the interpretation of caste politics through the lens of the Aryan-Dravidian theory, claiming that such narratives were propagated during the colonial era.
Challenge to Dimwit Stalin
If you want to eradicate Sanatan Dharma Stop your mother from going to Temples.
pic.twitter.com/tkawi5QLHk— Kashmiri Hindu (@BattaKashmiri) May 13, 2026
Referring to social reformers and political ideologies, Annamalai said B. R. Ambedkar should be remembered as a “great icon of modern India”. He claimed Ambedkar rejected the Aryan-Dravidian theory and asserted that caste divisions became more rigid over time, adding that it was the responsibility of Hindu society to eradicate caste discrimination.
The BJP leader also made remarks about Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and the historical demand for a separate Dravidian nation, referring to discussions involving Muhammad Ali Jinnah during the pre-Independence period.
The video has now gone viral again following renewed political debate in Tamil Nadu over Sanatana Dharma, with leaders from the BJP and the ruling DMK continuing to exchange sharp remarks on religion, caste and Dravidian ideology.
