New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his ministers not to comment on the “India-Bharat” name issue “needlessly” but give a “befitting reply” to those insulting Sanatana Dharma “with responsibility”.
At a meeting of the council of ministers Wednesday ahead of the G20 summit, he asked ministers to “factually” respond to all criticism of Sanatana Dharma, in reference to Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin calling for its eradication and comparing it with dengue and malaria viruses.
Multiple ministers present as the meeting told ThePrint that the Prime Minister asked them to counter insult to Sanatan Dharma with facts and under the ambit of the Constitution. “He pointed out that we should speak on the Sanatana Dharma issue as it is an insult to our religion. The PM also said we should speak with responsibility,” said a minister.
DMK minister and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi said last Saturday that Sanatana practises in Hinduism should be eradicated for encouraging caste discrimination and inequality.
In the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Modi said that no minister other than authorised persons should speak on the G-20 summit that is scheduled to take place in Delhi from 8 September. He asked the ministers to be punctual and advised them to make use of buses to reach the dinner venue for the President’s dinner.
“For the dinner organised on the 9th, the ministers and the Chief Minister will have to reach the Parliament House complex by 5:50 pm and reach the venue by 6:30 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave special instructions to use the buses to avoid traffic jams,” said a source. At the meeting, the PM also advised all ministers to download the G20 India mobile app ahead of the summit so that they can easilu interact with the foreign delegate.