Actor Kamal Haasan’s recent comment on Hindu terror has triggered outrage and condemnation from the right-wing, with a Hindu Mahasabha leader even going to the extent of saying that the star should be shot dead.
Lashing out at the actor’s remarks, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha national Vice President Ashok Sharma, on Friday, said that Kamal Haasan and likes of him should be shot dead, Times of India reported.
"Kamal Haasan and likes of him should either be shot dead or hanged so that they learn a lesson. Any person who uses abusive language for people belonging to Hindu faith does not have the right to live on this holy land and they should get death in return of their remarks," said Pandit Ashok Sharma, national vice president of the outfit told TOI.
The Mahasabha leader’s statement came just a day after Kamal Haasan’s column had been published in Tamil magazine Vikatan.
Alleging that terrorism has now spread to the Hindu camp, the actor wrote, “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?'”
According to the TOI report, another leader of the outfit pledged to boycott all films starring Haasan and his family members. Abhishek Agarwal, Meerut President of the outfit further said that all Indians should make the pledge.
“The people who insult Hindus and their religion should not be forgiven,” he was quoted as saying.
Kamal’s comments were in response to a question by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan published in the same magazine.
Pinarayi asks Kamal, “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 into Tamil Nadu. The slow growth of Hindutva powers are weakening the Dravidian tradition. As a social commentator, what is your opinion on this?”
Responding to the Kerala CM’s question, Kamal had said, “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.”
While BJP leaders like Vinay Katiyar called Kamal “mentally unstable”, the RSS has also hit out at the actor.
Meanwhile, Kamal, whose political entry is being speculated, is also facing a defamation case. On Friday, a lawyer in Uttar Pradesh filed a complaint in Varnasi against the actor alleging that he “hurt Hindu sentiments”.
Do you think this is what he was referring to. https://t.co/L3tumzDrGh
— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) November 4, 2017
Extremists should never be seen to represent the faith itself, whatever that faith may be. But we cannot deny their existence.
— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) November 4, 2017
Thus proving @ikamalhaasan's point on Hindu terror right. https://t.co/NIjPWNaBDU
— Rohit TK (@teekkhai) November 4, 2017