Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan on Monday irked row by making a controversial remark on Nathuram Godse and said that the country’s first extremist was a Hindu. His comment spread like a wildfire and prompted a quick response from political leaders and actor Vivek Oberoi.
Reacting to the comment of Haasan, Tamil Nadu Minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji said that his tongue should be cut off for making the remark. "His tongue should be cut off..he has said (free India's first extremist) was a Hindu. Extremism has no religion, neither Hindu nor Muslim nor Christian," the State Minister for Milk and Dairy Development was quoted saying by news agency PTI.
In his remark, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan referring to Nathuram Godse, a hardliner who killed Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, said Independent India's first extremist was a Hindu.
"I am not saying this because this is a Muslim-dominated area, but I am saying this before a statue of Gandhi. Independent India's first extremist (theevravaadi) was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse. There it starts," Haasan said. He was campaigning in the town of Aravakurichi in Tamil Nadu's Karur district on Sunday night when he made the remark.
On which, AIADMK leader Bhalaji also sought a ban on Kamal Haasan's party for "sowing violence".
"Why are you spewing venom. Every word (Haasan utters) is venom. Haasan's party which is sowing violence should be banned and the Election Commission should act against him," he added.
Actor Vivek Oberoi, whose biopic on PM Narendra Modi is hung to release after 23rd May, also attacked Hasaan. "Dear Kamal sir, you are a great artist. Just like art has no religion, terror has no religion either! You can say Ghodse (Nathuram Godse) was a terrorist, why would you specify 'Hindu' ? Is it because you were in a Muslim dominated area looking for votes?" he tweeted.