The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (EC) against Kamal Haasan for his ‘Hindu terrorist’ remark on Nathuram Godse. Haasan while addressing an election rally on Sunday had said the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi “was independent India’s first terrorist and a Hindu.”
BJP lodges complaint with EC after Kamal Haasan’s remark on Nathuram Godsehttps://t.co/sKxbaXaKq7
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) May 13, 2019
The complaint has been filed by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, saying the statement was intended to outrage religious feelings of millions of Hindus. Upadhyay said the speech has also breached the Model Code of Conduct as no one can appeal to caste or communal feelings to secure votes.
Haasan is the President of the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party and a new entrant to the political fray in India. Speaking at an election rally for his party candidate in Aravakurichi assembly constituency, he had termed Godse as independent India’s first terrorist, stirring a fresh controversy. “Independent India’s first terrorist was a Hindu. His name was Nathuram Godse. I’m not saying this because this is a locality with a sizeable Muslim population. I’m saying this in front of a Gandhi statue,” he had said.
BJP in its complaint to the EC has pointed out that any attempt to seek votes by invoking caste or communal feelings should be dealt with strongly.
Haasan has been receiving criticism for his remarks.
Dear Kamal sir, you are a great artist. Just like art has no religion, terror has no religion either! You can say Ghodse was a terrorist, why would you specify ‘Hindu’ ? Is it because you were in a Muslim dominated area looking for votes? @ikamalhaasan https://t.co/Hu3zxJjYNb
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) May 13, 2019
Terrorism has NO religion but Kamal Hasan says-India’s 1st terrorist was a Hindu
Mr @ikamalhaasan Will U tell us religion of those who
killed Kashmiri Pandits
Carried Mumbai Blasts
killed Sikhs in 84
Carried parliament attack & Urban Naxals like You?
Why r U demeaning Hinduism ? pic.twitter.com/48aMFca3n8— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) May 13, 2019
On the other hand, KS Alagiri of Congress has endorsed Haasan’s comment. “I support and agree with Kamal Haasan’s statement not only 100%, but 1000%,” Alagiri said while equating RSS with Islamic State.
However, this is not the first time that Haasan has landed himself in a controversy. Earlier, we had reported how the actor-turned-politician had been called out on social media for his controversial comment demanding a plebiscite in Kashmir. He had referred to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as ‘Azad Kashmir’ but was forced to make a U-turn after an outrage.
