Chennai: Kamal Haasan yesterday disagreed with calls for an immediate surgical strike to avenge the Pulwama killings and asked why a plebiscite was not held in Jammu and Kashmir earlier to foster peace.
“Why plebiscite – to get to know everyone’s view – was not held there. Why it was not done.? what is their fear?. The country was ripped apart into two (India and Pakistan). Why don’t you ask them (people of J & K) again, they (political leadership) won’t do it,” asked the Makkal Needhi Maiam chief.
He further said if the leadership of India and Pakistan had behaved properly, casualties could have been avoided.
Speaking at length about the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 40 CRPF jawans had lost their lives, he said, “If there is bleeding, the first job is to stop it. Surgery should also be arranged… Okay but when there is blood loss, place cloth or ice to ensure coagulation, so that there is no further loss (of blood). He was referring to the surgical strike.
He further said that years ago when he ran a magazine he had predicted that such things would happen in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jihadists were being glorified similar to that of sport stars in Pakistan which is madness and India should not repeat such a madness and rather it should prove that it is far better country, he said.
“Considering that, if your parents tell you to not join the Army, just tell them that more people die in road accidents in Tamilnadu than in the Army,” he added.
There are lot of opportunities in the Army and whether we have the valour to join the force is the question. Further slamming the leadership in both India and Pakistan, he said “One thing, I truly regret is when you say that army soldiers go join army only to die, I don’t believe… If the two politicians behave properly, there is no need for any solider to die, the line of control will be under control,” he said.
Kamal Haasan had also spoken to the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Vijaya Kumar on the matter. Haasan’s remarks of plebiscite evoked a raging row in the State.