Tamil Nadu: BJP's H Raja soft on Rajinikanth, hits out hard on Kamal Haasan

Chennai: It’s not just the ruling AIADMK Ministers who are going hammer and tongs at the veteran actor Kamal Haasan for criticising the government. The BJP, which initially maintained a studied silence, began to target the actor and his TV show, Bigg Boss. Somehow the saffron party finds ‘superstar’ Rajinikanth being closer to its heart than Kamal.

The BJP national secretary H. Raja was among the leaders from the State who hailed Rajini’s decision to enter politics. He had said the “popular” personality is welcome to join the saffron party and he lashed out at the reality show saying it was bereft of entertainment and information.

“Why should he (Kamal) criticise others, when he himself is allegedly involved in hosting controversial and obscene shows through ‘Bigg Boss’, which is bound to destroy Tamil culture and tradition,” Raja asked.

Days before Raja’s reaction was expressed on Saturday, the Hindu Makkal Katchi, had agitated against Kamal and his show as they said it destroyed Tamil culture. The HMK leader Arjun Sampath, who had already petitioned the police, has now threatened to stop the show, which was against the Tamil culture, by seeking legal recourse.

Rajini was always looked upon by the BJP and other political parties in the State as one who could make the masses rally behind him. This opinion had remained evergreen since the founding of the Tamil Maanila Congress. Hindu groups were always swayed by Rajini’s consistent stand supporting the Hindus and belief in god and not hurting any caste through his portrayal in films, while Kamal’s depiction of protagonists in certain films kicked up controversy, often making the Hindu groups protest vociferously. Strangely, it is not only the Sangh Parivar, Kamal has been invoking the wrath of some Muslim groups also. For instance, in his masterpiece, Dasavatharam (10 Avatars), Kamal played the role of a temple priest Rangaraja Nambi devoted to Lord Vishnu. He was made to drown along with the idol of his God in the sea. The VHP then objected that the film in which Kamal plays ten roles, contained a clash between Saivite and Vaishnavite saints of the 16th century AD.

His Vishwaroopam too ran into trouble when various Muslim organisations opposed it saying it would affect social harmony in the State. Films like Virumandi, Mumbai Express, Vasool Raja MBBS and Thevarmagan too raised controversies.

“When did he support Hindus? Unlike Rajini, Kamal does not have the support of the masses” BJP senior M. Chakravarthy says.

Stalin backs Nayakan hero

 Actor Kamal Haasan who is under attack from the ministers for criticising the government has found a friend in the DMK. The opposition party’s working president M. K. Stalin who came in support of the actor said it is the duty of the government to rectify the mistakes by accepting constructive criticism. 

Hours after the DMK leader said on Sunday that Kamal has “expressed the feelings of the people,” the actor acknowledged by tweeting a thanks message. “I don’t have anything else except to say thanks to brother,” Kamal tweeted. “Kamal’s views on corruption reflected the voice of the people. Ministers who try to stifle his voice should instead set things right. Threatening the actor is against democracy ,”  Stalin said.

 The beauty of democracy is that the rulers should correct their mistakes by accepting constructive criticism. "But it has become habitual for the government to intimidate those who speak the truth. Actor Kamal Hassan’s averrment that there is corruption at all levels in Tamil Nadu and that TN is worse than Bihar, only expressed the sentiments of the people,” Mr. Stalin said.