Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan saying India's first “terrorist was a Hindu,” referring to Nathuram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi, has kickstarted a controversy. Tamil Nadu BJP President Tamilisai Soundararajan retorted by tweeting:
“For someone who has never had any discipline in his life, Kamal you are not eligible to call yourself the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. I strongly condemn Kamal’s speech which intends to cause communal clashes and alarm.”
Actor Vivek Oberoi slammed Haasan’s remarks, saying both art and terror “have no religion” and asked if Godse’s faith was mentioned to corner Muslim votes.
‘Taken Out of Context’
Haasan’s party, the Makkal Needhi Maiam, issued a clarification, saying: “He was calling for religious tolerance and co-existence among all religious groups and condemned extremism in whichever form and religion.”
“This has been taken absolutely out of context and the speech has been painted as anti-Hindu, with a malafide intent. This has created complete confusion and utmost anxiety among many common citizens who are not privy to this larger conspiracy,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu minister Rajendra Balaji said Kamal Hassan's tongue should be cut off. While speaking at an election campaign in Thoothukudi, he said, “Kamal has made these remarks to gain votes of the minorities. We can't blame an entire community for the act of one individual. Kamal is working for outside forces. EC should immediately take action against the actor for such remarks. EC should ban his party.”
BJP leader and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Kamal was showing Hindus “in a bad light to appease minorities,” going the Congress and Communists way.
“It proves that he does not understand the difference between an assassin and a terrorist. An assassin is very different from a terrorist. Therefore if only he goes through the entire history and also follows up on the trial of Mahatma Gandhi he would know the difference,” Sitharaman said in a press conference. She added, "He is in a hurry to prove that he follows the same line of appeasing minorities for the sake of his newly launched venture,” News 18 reported.
Many others expressed their displeasure on Haasan linking a religion to terrorism.
Some of the reactions, however, were more personal, calling him a “beef eater,” while others brought Mohammad Ali Jinnah into the discourse.
On the other hand, Haasan managed to garner some support for his comment as well.
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