Did not utter anything out of imagination, won’t apologise for comments on Periyar: Rajinikanth

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday said he won’t apologise for his comments on an incident involving Dravidian stalwart E V R Periyar, saying he merely repeated what was in the public domain and did not utter anything out of “imagination.”

Rajinikanth’s last week statement that copies of Tughlaq, founded by late Cho Ramasamy, was seized by the government after it reported about a rally headed by Periyar in 1971 during which “images of Lord Ram and Sita were taken nude" has created a major controversy in Tamil Nadu.

Dravidar Kazhagam, founded by Periyar, and other outfits have taken strong objection to the statement and have even filed police complaints against Rajinikanth.

“I merely said what was reported in the media. I did not say anything that never happened. A controversy is being created over my remarks seeking my apology. Sorry, I won’t apologise. I did not say anything out of imagination,” Rajinikanth told reporters here. He was asked to comment on demands from Dravidar Kazhagam that he apologises for his remarks.

While referring to news reports, Rajinikanth made a gaffe when he said Outlook magazine was part of The Hindu group of publications. “This incident (1971) should be forgotten, not refuted,” the actor said, ruling out any apology from his side.

His comments came hours before Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) knocked at the doors of the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the police to register a case against Rajinikanth for his comments. The plea accused Rajinikanth of making comments “for self-promotion and to gain political advantage”.

Addressing the annual day celebrations of Tughlaq last week, Rajinikanth had said only the magazine had published news about the incident with a picture when no other news outlet bothered to report about it.
As it brought a bad name to the DMK Government, Rajinikanth said, then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had seized the copies, but Tughlaq reprinted it and sold it in black.

The comments by Rajinikanth were his direct retort to Dravidian parties who swear by Periyar. The BJP, to which the actor is considered close, views Periyar as its ideological opponent and often criticises and attacks him and his past statements.