Haasan & Controversies

Kamal Haasan has this trait of raising the bar whether it be movies or his new- found passion, politics. (though these days all his shows are flop shows). This along with his outspokenness quite frequently lands him in controversies.  

This time round he has landed in trouble with his Hindu terrorist utterance.

The BJP -led right wing is up in arms against the actor-turned-politician's statement that free India's first terrorist was a Hindu and his name was Nathuram Godse.

Haasan, who heads Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) was campaigning for his party candidate S.Mohanraj at Aravakuruchi where bypoll is due on May 19 when he went hammer and tongs saying the firsts terrorist of independent India was a Hindu. 

"I'm not saying because this happens to be a Muslim-dominated area. I say this in front of Gandhi statue. The first terrorist of independent India was a Hindu. His name was Nathuram Godse," the actor declared.

Describing himself as the spiritual great- grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Haasan said that he has come to seek answer for the murder. 

"All good Indians want an India where equality and all the three colours of national flag were upheld. In that sense, I am a good Indian," Kamal Haasan claimed.

The right -wing took exception to the remarks with BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan vehemently condemning.

"In addition to using the term 'Hindu terrorism' in a Muslim-dominated area, Kamal Haasan has also said that Hindu terrorism was the first in Independent India. This is vehemently condemnable," Tamilisai said.

Vivek Oberoi, who portrayed the role of Modi in PM Narendra Modi took to twitter to react.

 "Dear Kamal sir, you are a great artist. Just like art has no religion, terror has no religion either! You can say Godse was a terrorist, why would you specify 'Hindu'? Is it because you were in a Muslim dominated area looking for votes?"

The actor urged Haasan not to divide the country.

"Please sir, from a much smaller artist to a great one, let's not divide this country, we are one."

Being on the receiving end is not something new for Kamal Haasan. In 2013 Muslim outfits raised a banner of revolt against the actor's Vishwaroopam. Finally, the movie was released after some controversial scenes were edited out. He has also drawn the ire of Hindu outfits several times in the recent past.

When he launched his political outfit on February last year it appeared, for his strident criticism of Narendra Modi, that he could be a natural ally of the DMK-led front. But Stalin apparently was not much inclined to accommodate him. A section of the voters identify MNM as a B-team of the BJP, which it is not. Thus, Kamal Haasan's is an ambiguous presence in Tamil Nadu politics.

ENDS