Chennai: Makkal Needhi Maiam founder, actor-politician Kamal Haasan has reiterated what he said about Nathuram Godse and Mahatma Gandhi and rhetorically asked what was wrong with his statement.
Speaking to mediapersons this morning at the airport here, he said he stands by what he said (that free India’s first extremist was a Hindu and his name was Godse).
He pointed out that he had made the same remark at Marina, during his campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. But then no one protested against it then, he said. He explained that then, the audience was a mixed crowd and had people of all religions and communities.
Calling the issue a ‘manufactured’ one, Kamal said it was so because they were losing confidence in winning the election.
On whether he would like to react to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment, he said “history would reply” to him.
The MNM leader was caustic in his remark about disallowing their campaign in the Sulur constituency where a by-election is scheduled for 19 May. Stating that it was important for them to campaign on the last day of campaign today, Kamal said if there was a tense situation in Sulur, why does not the Election Commission countermand the election?
When a reporter asked if he was worried about being arrested, he shot back saying that he was not worried. But he was not warning but rather advising that it should not happen as it would worsen the existing tension.
Answering a question on why the DMK had not risen to his support on the Godse comment issue, Kamal smilingly said they probably have their own ‘agenda’.
Though slippers and stones have been thrown at him during his recent campaign, he said there was no issues regarding his security.