Amidst a contentious dispute in India surrounding comments made by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and Congress's Priyank Kharge regarding Sanatana Dharma, a city in the United States has officially designated September 3 as Sanatana Dharma Day.
The Mayor of Louisville, located in Kentucky, United States, has formally declared September 3 as Sanatana Dharma Day within the city's boundaries.
The formal proclamation was presented by Deputy Mayor Barbara Sexton Smith on behalf of Mayor Craig Greenberg during the auspicious Maha Kumbha Abhishekam ceremony, which took place at the Hindu Temple of Kentucky in Louisville.
Esteemed spiritual leaders, including Chidanand Saraswati, the President of Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Bhagawati Saraswati, graced the event with their presence. Additionally, notable figures such as Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Deputy Chief of Staff Keisha Dorsey, along several other spiritual leaders and dignitaries, participated in this significant occasion.
In a separate development related to the Sanatana Dharma controversy, an FIR (First Information Report) has been filed in Rampur against DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and Priyank Kharge, the son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, on charges of allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
Stalin faced legal action for his remarks calling for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma, while Priyank Kharge was implicated for endorsing Stalin's statement.
Stalin's comments, made during an event in Tamil Nadu, equated Sanatana Dharma to diseases like dengue and malaria, leading to a strong backlash from various political parties. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded that the Congress condemn Stalin's statements.
In response, Priyank Kharge supported Stalin's assertion, asserting that, in his view, "any religion that does not promote equality and fails to ensure human dignity is not a religion." This stance further fueled the ongoing controversy surrounding Sanatana Dharma in India.
