The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (EC) against Kamal Haasan for his ‘Hindu terrorist’ remark on Nathuram Godse. Haasan while addressing an election rally on Sunday had said the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi “was independent India’s first terrorist and a Hindu.”
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The complaint has been filed by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, saying the statement was intended to outrage religious feelings of millions of Hindus. Upadhyay said the speech has also breached the Model Code of Conduct as no one can appeal to caste or communal feelings to secure votes.
Haasan is the President of the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party and a new entrant to the political fray in India. Speaking at an election rally for his party candidate in Aravakurichi assembly constituency, he had termed Godse as independent India’s first terrorist, stirring a fresh controversy. “Independent India’s first terrorist was a Hindu. His name was Nathuram Godse. I’m not saying this because this is a locality with a sizeable Muslim population. I’m saying this in front of a Gandhi statue,” he had said.
BJP in its complaint to the EC has pointed out that any attempt to seek votes by invoking caste or communal feelings should be dealt with strongly.
Haasan has been receiving criticism for his remarks.
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On the other hand, KS Alagiri of Congress has endorsed Haasan’s comment. “I support and agree with Kamal Haasan’s statement not only 100%, but 1000%,” Alagiri said while equating RSS with Islamic State.
However, this is not the first time that Haasan has landed himself in a controversy. Earlier, we had reported how the actor-turned-politician had been called out on social media for his controversial comment demanding a plebiscite in Kashmir. He had referred to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as ‘Azad Kashmir’ but was forced to make a U-turn after an outrage.