Chennai: The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has refused to entertain a plea of an advocate to stop Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan from campaigning any further.
Advocate Saravanan had filed a petition in the court, seeking a ban on Kamal Hassan continuing his campaign for the four constituencies going to polls 19 May.
Kamal had stirred a hornet’s nest by stating that the first extremist of independent India was a Hindu – Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi – while campaigning for his candidate at Aravakurichi. He was speaking in a Muslim-dominated area.
Kamal’s speech led to a series of protests and cases against him.
In the present case before the Madurai court, the advocate sought a ban on his canvassing for votes for the rest of the campaign. But the court turned down the plea and said this was in the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of India.