🎭 Political Theatre | Bold statements, questions on Op Sindoor and Musk's resignation

Hello there Readers! Welcome back! 

A lot has unfolded in the political landscape over the course of the week. A language row broke out between Karnataka and Tamil actor Kamal Haasan; opposition parties are increasing pressure on the Modi government to answer questions around Operation Sindoor, while fissures are widening between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress. 

On the world stage, we take a look at the latest political twists surrounding Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Grab a cup of coffee and sit back as we give you a rundown of the latest events in the political sphere.

Which came first? Kannada? Tamil?  

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan announced his entry to Rajya Sabha with the support of the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). 

But was quick to get tangled in controversy, Hassan during the promotion of his new film Thug Life said “Tamil gave birth to Kannada.” Clarifying that his remarks on Kannada were made out of love, he said, that “love will never apologise”.

The actor’s statement spurred a row, with people from Karnataka, across party lines, slamming his remark and demanding an apology. The Karnataka government said it would seek a ban on the actor’s films if he did not apologise for his comment.

“Kamal Haasan should apologise for speaking lightly about Kannada. If he doesn’t, then the government will write to the Karnataka Films Chamber of Commerce seeking a ban on his films,” Kannada & Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also refuted Haasan’s claim. “The Kannada language has a very long history. Poor (Kamal Haasan) does not know,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka described Kamal Haasan as a “madman” and called upon Kannadigas to boycott him. “His remarks about Kannada make it clear that he’s an urban naxal,” he said.

However Hassan found support among political leaders in Tamil Nadu. Defending the actor, they said he merely stated the truth and that it is always “difficult to accept the truth.”

United front was short lived

The united front put up by political parties in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack was short-lived. Now questions are being raised and the demand for a special parliamentary session on the attack and Operation Sindoor is growing.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sharing an interview clip of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, accused the latter of giving Pakistan prior information about 'Operation Sindoor', an allegation rebutted by the MEA as "utter misrepresentation of facts".

Jaishankar told a Parliamentary panel that Pakistan was informed about Operation Sindoor only after India struck nine terror camps in that country and that his remarks were “twisted” and “misrepresented” to suggest that the neighbouring nation was informed prior to the military action. 

Responding to questions from MPs about US President Donald Trump's recurring remarks on ceasefire, Jaishankar insisted that there was “no interference” by the United States in the ceasefire decision, which was taken after talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) on a request from the Pakistan side.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy joined in to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi on why the government ended military operations against Pakistan half-way and failed to seek all-party opinion before declaring a ceasefire.

Mounting pressure on the Modi government, Trinamool Congress, RJD, Samajwadi Party, CPI(M) and CPI have joined in to demand a Special Session of Parliament on the Pahalgam terror attack and India's Operation Sindoor. I.N.D.I.A. bloc is mulling submitting a joint letter to the government. 

The chasm deepens

The strain between senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and his party seems to be widening. Tharoor appeared to suggest that Congress governments did not conduct surgical strikes like the Modi government did by claiming that the country breached the LoC for the first time in 2016. 

Congress leaders retorted, they listed eight instances of surgical strikes  between 2000 and 2014 for the past around nine years, highlighting that the UPA government was in power for a substantial time during this period.

Using Tharoor’s own words against him, Congress leader Pawan Khera shared an image of a page from Tharoor's 2018 book The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi and His India, in which he criticised the Modi government while acknowledging strikes conducted by Congress government.

Tooting his own horn

The Prime Minister has been holding rallies in different states and has not shied away from blowing his own trumpet in the aftermath of the successful Operation Sindoor. His choice of words and braggadocio has certainly raised some eyebrows.

In his first visit after Operation Sindoor to Gujarat, Modi was heard saying, "When someone wipes off the vermilion (sindoor) of our mothers and sisters, their (terrorists) destruction is also certain." 

"Sukh chain ki jindagi jiyo, roti khao varna meri goli toh hai hi (Live life peacefully... eat food or else my bullet)," Modi thundered at the rally.

Emphasising India’s fight against terrorism, Modi at a rally in West Bengal warned that India would act decisively against all those who sponsor terror and Operation Sindoor is not yet over. 

Modi made another bold statement, claiming that India has become the fourth-largest economy in the world, surpassing Japan. However, NITI Aayog member Arvind Virmani has clarified that India would overtake Japan by the end of 2025 to become the fourth-largest economy.

Joining in the theatrical statements, Amit Shah said, “Under Modi’s leadership, Operation Sindoor was undertaken. We have shown (to the world) the importance of ‘ek chutki sindoor'.”

Modi is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at Rio de Janeiro in early July. New Delhi is keen to continue the process of normalising its bilateral relations with Beijing despite China’s close ties with Pakistan. 

Didi brings up Modi's past

Not one to take criticism lying down, the Bengal CM lashed out at the prime minister after he targetted the Trinamool Congress during his latest visit to West Bengal.

In a press conference, Banerjee said, "Please remember, every woman has respect, they accept sindoor only from her husband... The way you are talking... you are not the husband of everybody; why are you not giving sindoor to your Mrs first?"

"First, he (Modi) used to call himself a tea-seller, then a chowkidar, and now he has come to sell sindoor. He cannot sell sindoor like this," Banerjee said, drawing condemnation from the BJP for her choice of words.

What’s new in the Trump-verse

In a surprising turn of events, Tesla CEO and the unofficial First Buddy Elon Musk is stepping down from his role in the Donald Trump administration after spearheading a controversial push for greater efficiency. Musk’s efforts disrupted several federal agencies, but in the end, he fell short. The reason for his exit is still unknown. However, the announcement follows close on the heels of Musk criticising Trump's marquee tax bill, calling it too expensive and a measure that would undermine his work with the DOGE Service. DOGE will live on without Musk, the administration said. 

“Elon is terrific,” Trump said, praising the billionaire. "This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way."

In a setback to Trump’s tariff wars, a panel of federal judges blocked him from imposing some of his steepest tariffs on China and other US trading partners. It was stated that he vastly overstepped his ability to issue those expansive duties under federal law and ordered an immediate block on them. 

The United States Court of Appeals swiftly came to the rescue of Donald Trump. Pausing the lower court's ruling to consider the government's appeal, the court ordered the plaintiffs in the cases to respond by June 5 and the administration by June 9.

A federal judge said on Thursday she would extend an order blocking President Donald Trump's administration from immediately revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, a victory for the Ivy League school that is entangled in multiple battles with the administration.

That brings us to the end of this week's political roundup. DH Political Theatre will come back again next week with more political advancements from around the world. 

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DH Newsletters Team