Case registered against Kamal Haasan for Godse remark

The Tamil Nadu Police on Tuesday booked actor-politician Kamal Haasan under two sections of the IPC for his statement that independent India’s first terrorist was a Hindu, Nathuram Godse.

Aravakurichi Police filed a case under Sections 153A and 295A against Kamal Haasan for “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion” and “deliberately acting to outrage religious feelings”.

The case was filed two days after Kamal Haasan made the controversial statement during a campaign meeting seeking votes for his Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) candidate, S Mohanraj, in the Aravakurichi assembly by-polls scheduled for May 19.

Karur Superintendent of Police V Vikraman said the case was registered under Sections 153A and 295A against Kamal Haasan. He also warned political leaders and others not to whip up religious passions during the election campaign.

Speaking at the campaign meeting on Sunday night, Kamal Haasan recalled the attacks and threats that he faced a year back for his statement on “Hindu extremism”.

“I am not saying this just because this is a Muslim-dominated area. They (BJP and right wing) attack me for saying that Hindu extremism exists in India. I say that independent India’s first terrorist is a Hindu. His name is Nathuram Godse,” Kamal Haasan, who termed himself as Gandhi’s “great-grandson”, said.

“I have come here to ask questions about the incident (Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination),” he had said. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Dairy Development Minister K T Rajenthra Balaji refused to apologise to Kamal Haasan for his comments that the actor’s tongue should be cut for such statements.

“If Kamal Haasan expresses regret for the Hindu terror comment, I will also express regret. Why is Kamal Haasan insulting Hindus?” he asked. His comments came on a statement by MNM demanding his removal.

MNM general secretary A Arunachalam said as the elected representative of the people and the minister for milk and dairy development, Mr Rajenthra Balaji has broken the promise he made when he took oath as a minister. “So, he must be removed from his post immediately," Arunachalam said in a statement.