Amid the Congress party maintained distance from the row over Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's remark on Sanatan Dharma, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 3 September put out an old video of Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Alagiri saying the purpose of the alliance in the state is to destroy Sanatan Dharma, reported Hindustan Times.

       Sitharaman's comments arrive as the Sanatan Dharma row turned into a major controversy with the opposition alliance INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) facing the heat for the DMK leader's statement.

       Sitharaman pointed out Tamil Nadu minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments PK Sekar Babu -- present at the event -- did not protest when Udhayanidhi Stalin made the statement on eradicating Sanatan Dharma. She took to X and wrote, “Sworn by the Constitution of India, Minister @Udhaystalin calls for the eradication of Santana Dharma, “like mosquitoes". On the dais, listening without protest is TN Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments @PKSekarbabu. President @INCTamilNadu says purpose of alliance is to destroy Sanatana Dharma. I.N.D.I.A against Hindus!"

       Earlier in the day, Union home minister Amit Shah led the attack on INDIA as he said, "These people have talked about Sanatan Dharma for votebank appeasement. They have insulted (Sanatan Dharma)."

       ALSO READ: Sanatan Dharma row: Himanta Biswa Sarma won't condemn Udhayanidhi Stalin's statement, here's WHY

       Udhayanidhi's statement row:

       Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi said Sanatan Dharma is like dengue, malaria which should be eradicated as merely opposing it won't solve the problem.

       He even compared Sanatan Dharma's practice like Sati with Dravidian principles and said, “What did Sanatan do to women? It pushed women, who lost their husbands, into fire (the erstwhile practice of Sati), it tonsured the heads of widows and made them wear white saris. Child marriages too happened."