Udhayanidhi Stalin (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday said the Dravidian ideology practised by his party, the DMK, and the principles of Islam are “fundamentally the same”, as both teach “equality, love, and generosity”.“The religion that teaches equality, love, and generosity is our Islam. The principles of Dravidian ideology and the principles of Islam are fundamentally the same,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying. Stalin junior, who aslo happens to be the son of chief minister MK Stalin, said no “conspiracies” can break the relationship between the urling DMK and the Muslim coummunity.

“As long as brotherhood and unity exist, no matter how many attempts or conspiracies take place, no one will be able to break the relationship between the DMK and the Muslim community,” said Stalin, who is DMK’s heir apparent.Addressing a DMK Minorities Welfare Rights Wing Iftar function in the poll-bound state, Stalin highlighted the works chief minister MK Stalin has done, including the laying of a foundation stone to build the Tamil Nadu Haj House at a cost of Rs 39 crore. He also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is grinding hard to make inroads in Tamil Nadu, saying the national party “spreads hatred against minorities every day” which helps it to grow.“A BJP chief minister himself released a video targeting Muslims. I don’t need to explain to you about the BJP and others. The Union BJP government spreads hatred against minorities every day. It is through this hatred campaign that the BJP is growing,” Stalin said in a veiled attack on Assam chief minister Himanta Sarma. He further said: “No matter how much the BJP tries or how much trouble they create, the DMK will always stand firmly with you as your protector”.