Remove Minister, demands MNM

Bhalaji was reacting to Kamal’s remark that free India’s first terrorist was a Hindu when he warned that somebody would cut off the actor turned politician’s tongue in the future and also demanded the Election Commission to ban Makkal Needhi Maiam.

Reacting to AIADMK Minister’s controversial comment, MNM general secretary A Arunachalam said, “As the elected representative of the people and the Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, Rajenthira Bhalaji has broken the promise that he made when he took oath as a Minister. So, he must be removed from his post immediately,” he said in the statement here.

The BJP and its allies castigated Kamal Haasan for his statement, while the opposition parties extended support for the actor and even sought action against the Minister.

Kamal was campaigning for his party candidate S Mohanraj at Aravakuruchi where bypoll is due on May 19 when he went hammer and tongs saying the firsts terrorist of Independent India was a Hindu. “I’m not saying because this happens to be a Muslim-dominated area. I say this in front of Gandhi statue. The first terrorist of Independent India was a Hindu. His name was Nathuram Godse,” the actor declared.

A day after he rapped Kamal Haasan for talking on Hindu terror, Dairy Minister KT Rajenthira Bhalaji said he would withdraw his remarks if the Makkal Needhi Maiam chief learnt his lessons and apologise. 

Talking to reporters in Thoothukudi on Tuesday, the Minister clarified that it was not his intention to hurt anybody and Kamal should take it as a bit of advice from him. “If Kamal realised what he did was wrong during his recent campaign address at Aravakurichi, I will withdraw my remarks,” Bhalaji said.

The Minister said that such talk targeting a particular community would spark public fury and added that it gave him an opportunity to correct Kamal and learn from his mistake. However, he also doubted whether Kamal received funds from IS terrorists and demanded the CBI to conduct a probe into this.

Citing the clashes in Sri Lanka after the terror attack, the Minister asked whether Kamal was making such comments to satisfy somebody, who were directing him from behind.