Chennai, Nov 17 (Deccan Chronicle): Days after veteran actor Kamal Haasan sparked a controversy over his “Hindu extremism” column in Tamil news magazine Ananda Vikatan, invoking the spontaneous ire of the BJP and other Hindu groups, here, the actor has said in his latest article published on Thursday that “Hindus are in a majority, and they should embrace others and correct them if they do wrong.”
He also advised his readers to pay their taxes, and likened tax evasion to “treachery,” and writes: “We can't pay Turkey berry (sundakkai) as tax and expect pumpkin in return.” The actor equated tax to “student pocket money we give to the government.”
In today's column, he wrote: “Hindus are in a majority. They have the responsibility of an elder brother. When Hindus they say we are big their hearts too ought to be big. They should embrace others and correct them if they do wrong. We've given courts the responsibility to punish people. Let them do that.”
“I have no problems if I am dragged to courts. I am on people's journey,” he added. Perhaps, his remarks in the latest edition appear to be linked to the outrage that had ensured on his previous article. On his 63rd birthday last week, the actor had declared that a new app titled “maiyamwhistle” would be the interface between him and fans who want to share feedback or ideas on what issues he should embrace in a political role.
Elaborating on the app in his column, he informed: “I am not entering politics relying on my app alone. Plenty of actions are coming up.”
To return donors’ Rs 30 crore; hints at visiting Modi’s Varanasi
The megastar said he will return the money he received as donation to launch his political outfit back. "People have started sending me letters and money. But if I accept it now, it is illegal and hence I am sending them back," Haasan wrote.
"Don't think that I am stepping back. I want to create the fundamentals before accepting the money….the moment people started sending money, the political party had begun. But I need to create proper infrastructure so that even after me, this movement should continue," he wrote. Haasan said his fans have spent Rs. 30 crore so far "for the welfare of people."
The truth, he said, is that even he can't arrange such huge sum on his own, he wrote. On his future plans, Haasan also made a subtle hint in his column at visiting Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had won in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. "I have started my journey to meet the people and I would take this as a part of it. If they want me to come to Varanasi, I would not hesitate. I have been there while shooting for Hey Ram", he wrote.
He accused the Congress of "word play" on his alleged Hindu terror remarks, and said, "I did not say Hindu terrorism. I wouldn't call my fans a 'terror fan.' The word play is the stand of the Congress which is against the BJP. I am still maintaining that extremism is spreading but I didn't use the word terrorism," he said.