Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, clarified his recent remarks about Sanatan Dharma, emphasizing that his comments were focused on the caste system rather than an opposition to religious practices. He stated that his call for the abolition of the caste system should not be misconstrued as a rejection of temple worship, asserting that everyone deserves equal rights in both religious and social contexts. Udhayanidhi's initial comments, made during his maiden speech as Leader of the Opposition, suggested that Sanatan Dharma, which he claimed divides people, should be abolished. This sparked significant backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and pro-Hindu groups, who accused him of targeting Hindu beliefs. In response, BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy criticized the DMK's approach, suggesting that such divisive politics contributed to their electoral defeat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Udhayanidhi reiterated his commitment to fighting against inequality and oppression while respecting individual beliefs.