Amidst the controversy over Kamal Haasan’s remarks on Godse, the Makkal Needhi Maiam chief said on Thursday that he stands by his comments and isn’t afraid of being arrested. He claimed that his statements have been blown out of proportion.
A massive controversy broke out after Kamal Haasan at an election rally said that independent India’s first terrorist was a Hindu and it was Nathuram Godse.
Following which an FIR had been filed against him under Sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code, for ‘outraging religious feelings’ and ‘promoting enmity between different groups’.
“I don’t fear arrest but I have got campaigning to do. Let them arrest.. but if they arrest me tensions will escalate. This is not my request but an advice,” he said.
The BJP has also filed a complaint with the Election commission stating that the statement was intended to outrage religious feelings of millions of Hindus and that the speech has also breached the Model Code of Conduct as no one can appeal to caste or communal feelings to secure votes.
Justifying his remarks on Godse he told reporters, “Let me tell you terrorists abound all religions…every religion has its own terrorists and we cannot claim that we are sanctimonious and we have not done that. History shows you that all religions have their extremists.” He claimed that his remarks on Godse were meant to maintain communal harmony.
Meanwhile, Haasan was attacked while he was in Karur to deliver a speech. Allegedly two men had hurled eggs and stones at home while he was getting down the stage. Following which the MNM members caught hold of the two accused and started beating them. The police intervened and took them to custody.
Reacting to the incident Kamal Haasan said, “I feel the quality of polity is going down. I don’t feel threatened.”
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 his comments were called out on social media.
