It's not just actor Kamal Haasan who has been vocal about political issues in recent times. His colleagues from the film industry, actors Arvind Swami and Prakash Raj, have also been tweeting their views about different issues for a while.
Now, a day after Kamal said that terrorism has spread in the Hindu right camp, both actors have echoed his views and expressed their concerns on Friday.
“If abusing and manhandling young couples on the streets of my country in the name of morality is not terrorizing.. If taking law into hands and lynching people on slightest doubt of cow slaughter is not terrorizing..If trolling with abuse, threat..to silence even a slightest voice of dissent is not terrorizing.. then what is terrorizing.. #justasking,” Prakash Raj published a statement from his Twitter account.
Kamal Haasan, in his latest column in Tamil magazine Vikatan, had written, “Earlier, the Hindu right would not personally indulge in violence, but instead through their debates they would incite their opponents to violence. But once this tactic failed, they started using muscle power instead of dialogue. They too have started using violence. They can no longer challenge saying 'Can you show me a Hindu Terrorist?'”
“Terrorism has spread to that extent in their camp. This terrorism is neither a win nor progress for those who call themselves Hindus. Going from 'Truth alone triumphs' to 'Might alone triumphs' will make us all barbaric,” he had stated in the column.
Arvind Swami reiterated this idea through his tweet: “Terrorist definition a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims."
Last month, Prakash Raj had hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being silent on journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder and the supporters of the right wing who had posted celebratory messages on social media.
“Gauri’s killers may not have been caught yet but what is more distressing is those who celebrated her death. We may not be able to see Gauri’s killers but we can see those who have spewed vitriol,” the actor had said.
“People who our Prime Minister follows are also among them. We have a Prime Minister who shuts his eyes to this,” he'd further added.
Arvind Swami had tweeted his support to Tamil movie Mersal after the BJP had asked the producers to remove scenes from the film which criticised the policies and programmes of the Central government like the GST and Digital India. “By consolidating taxes, GST is making ppl aware of their contribution. Now people will ask the govt for their due. What's wrong?#Mersal,” he had tweeted.
Kamal Haasan’s statement in Vikatan was in response to a question by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan published in the same magazine.
Pinrayi Vijayan had asked, “Periyar's self-respect movement had an impact beyond Tamil Nadu. Many societies look up to Tamil Nadu for inspiration and leadership. But in recent times, communalism and backwardness have set foot in Tamil Nadu. The slow growth of Hindutva powers are weakening the Dravidian tradition. As a social commentator, what is your opinion on this?”
Kamal Haasan had responded by saying that the effort to turn the whole world into right wing will not succeed.
“The effort to turn the whole world right wing will not succeed. This is a temporary fashion. Like makeup, it won't last too long,” he'd said.