<p class="title">Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday launched a scathing attack on DMK president M K Stalin asking whether he wasn’t ashamed of “copying my idea” of holding grama sabhas in Tamil Nadu.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He did not even spare his friend of several decades and companion in the tinsel town, newbie politician Rajinikanth, for his decision not to contest Lok Sabha polls, saying one cannot refuse to play after coming to the playground.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This is the first time that Kamal Haasan, who professes the Dravidian ideology, chose to criticise the DMK and its top leadership openly, though he has been taking pot shots at the party indirectly.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Addressing an event at a renowned school here, the actor-politician also said he would not tear his shirt inside the Legislative Assembly and would change his attire even if he did so, an obvious remark targeted at Stalin, who emerged from the Assembly premises with a torn shirt after a scuffle during the trust vote sought by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in February 2017. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“One thing I learned in the past year after launching my political party is that politicians should give a hearing to the people. Grama sabhas have existed for long but aren’t you ashamed of copying it (holding of such sabhas) from a child who has just take a plunge in politics (Kamal Haasan)?” the actor asked.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kamal Haasan held his first gram sabha on May 1, 2018, and has been holding such meetings regularly. DMK chief Stalin has been crisscrossing the state since January this year to hold gram sabha meetings in an attempt to rejuvenate the cadre at the grassroots.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The actor-politician’s scathing attack comes a day after the DMK ruled out a proposal by the Congress to include Kamal Haasan’s MNM in the rainbow alliance. The DMK rejected the proposal after Kamal Haasan called the Dravidian party “corrupt.” During the course of speech and interaction that lasted 50 minutes, Kamal Haasan spoke in detail about his political plunge and how he does not want to get “my shoes dirty” by joining hands with parties that indulge in corrupt activities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The DMK and Kamal Haasan were seen as ideological partners, but both have been attacking each other since their audience seem to be the same – those who subscribe to the Dravidian ideology. After the speech, Kamal Haasan said his criticism against DMK was “conscious” and the reason for such criticism was the Dravidian party and not himself.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The DMK chose not to comment on Kamal Haasan’s statement with Stalin and others skirting the questions — the party chief told reporters that “I am speaking about politics” when they sought his reaction.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“We will not comment on Kamal Haasan’s statement. Let him say whatever he wants,” DMK spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP R S Bharathi told <em>DH</em>.</p>
<p class="title">Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday launched a scathing attack on DMK president M K Stalin asking whether he wasn’t ashamed of “copying my idea” of holding grama sabhas in Tamil Nadu.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He did not even spare his friend of several decades and companion in the tinsel town, newbie politician Rajinikanth, for his decision not to contest Lok Sabha polls, saying one cannot refuse to play after coming to the playground.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This is the first time that Kamal Haasan, who professes the Dravidian ideology, chose to criticise the DMK and its top leadership openly, though he has been taking pot shots at the party indirectly.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Addressing an event at a renowned school here, the actor-politician also said he would not tear his shirt inside the Legislative Assembly and would change his attire even if he did so, an obvious remark targeted at Stalin, who emerged from the Assembly premises with a torn shirt after a scuffle during the trust vote sought by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in February 2017. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“One thing I learned in the past year after launching my political party is that politicians should give a hearing to the people. Grama sabhas have existed for long but aren’t you ashamed of copying it (holding of such sabhas) from a child who has just take a plunge in politics (Kamal Haasan)?” the actor asked.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kamal Haasan held his first gram sabha on May 1, 2018, and has been holding such meetings regularly. DMK chief Stalin has been crisscrossing the state since January this year to hold gram sabha meetings in an attempt to rejuvenate the cadre at the grassroots.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The actor-politician’s scathing attack comes a day after the DMK ruled out a proposal by the Congress to include Kamal Haasan’s MNM in the rainbow alliance. The DMK rejected the proposal after Kamal Haasan called the Dravidian party “corrupt.” During the course of speech and interaction that lasted 50 minutes, Kamal Haasan spoke in detail about his political plunge and how he does not want to get “my shoes dirty” by joining hands with parties that indulge in corrupt activities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The DMK and Kamal Haasan were seen as ideological partners, but both have been attacking each other since their audience seem to be the same – those who subscribe to the Dravidian ideology. After the speech, Kamal Haasan said his criticism against DMK was “conscious” and the reason for such criticism was the Dravidian party and not himself.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The DMK chose not to comment on Kamal Haasan’s statement with Stalin and others skirting the questions — the party chief told reporters that “I am speaking about politics” when they sought his reaction.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“We will not comment on Kamal Haasan’s statement. Let him say whatever he wants,” DMK spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP R S Bharathi told <em>DH</em>.</p>
