KOLKATA: Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged citizens to respect all religions and keep trust in the tenet of 'unity in diversity' in an attempt to distance herself and her party from DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks on Sanatan Dharma.

"I have full respect for Tamil Nadu," Banerjee said on Monday.

"Every religion has their separate sentiments.

Let's not make any comments that may hurt the majority or minority of the population.

India is a secular and democratic country and unity in diversity is in our origin."Stressing that Stalin's statement had nothing to do with her ideology, Banerjee stressed she respected Sanatan Dharma.

She pointed out that the state had a pension scheme for Hindu priests."I believe we shouldn't get involved in any matter that may hurt the sentiments of any section of society.

He (Stalin) is junior and maybe he has faltered.

I came to know of his comment recently and can't speak from his perspective.

My view is, they need to respect every religion," Banerjee added.Remark unfortunate, has no connection with INDIA bloc, says TMC Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, elaborating on her 'unity in diversity' theme while distancing herself and her party from Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks on Sanatan Dharma, said Lord Balaji was popular in south India, while Siddhi Vinayak was popular in Maharashtra and Ma Durga was popular in Bengal.

She said India was home of people from different castes and religions.TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh called Stalin's statement "unfortunate" and "undesirable", saying the INDIA bloc had no truck with Stalin's comments.

"We want to make it very clear that the INDIA bloc has no connection with Stalin's comments.

It doesn't matter whose son he is.

We are looking at this as a stray comment which is unfortunate and undesirable and we strongly protest against the comment."Ghosh, addressing the press, said: "Sanatan Dharma is very respectful.

We believe in secularism and respect Hindus, Muslims and Christians.

We believe in religious tolerance.

This means we can choose to follow any religion we want and at the same time respect others for the religion they choose to follow.

If anyone disrespects any religion, we believe it is wrong and we strongly condemn it."Ghosh added that it also remained to be seen whether Stalin had made his comment "by mistake" or whether he had been misinterpreted.

"But if he has said so, he should immediately issue a statement and rectify his mistake."Watch‘INDIA’ block divided: DMK adamant on insulting Sanatan Dharma, rejects Mamata's advice to respect all religions