Just days after superstar Rajinikanth called off his visit to Jaffna, Sri Lanka, where he was supposed to inaugurate houses built for displaced Tamils, actor R Madhavan has spoken in support of Thalaivar.
Speaking to Times Now, the Alaipayuthey actor said that he agreed with Rajinikanth's view that in future if he were to visit the country, it should not be considered a political issue but a humanitarian one.
"You must understand that we are very vulnerable, as actors. It is unfair that social issues get linked to us before the release of a film," he said.
"Mr Rajinikanth is vulnerable right now because a film is about to release and it doesn't make sense to create a controversy at this point of time because there will so much money, everybody's life earnings at stake now right now... If it gets delayed or postponed, it is not right," Madhavan argued.
Actor R. Madhavan backs Rajinikanth and slams politicians for politicising the issue #RajiniCharityRow pic.twitter.com/IpRGQzw0fL
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 27, 2017
Why Rajinikanth cancelled his Jaffna visit
Rajinikanth was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka to participate in the inauguration of 150 houses built for displaced Tamils by the Gnanam Foundation, a part of Lyca Productions that is producing his 2.0.
In a public statement, Rajinikanth said that he had originally decided to participate in the event for two reasons. "I wanted to go to the place where so many people had fought for their rights and had shed their blood and breathe the same air that they had breathed. And I have had this desire for many days. I also wanted to see the lakhs of Tamil people there who have given me my life and livelihood, and to open my heart and speak to them,” Rajini said.
The other reason he wished to visit Sri Lanka, he said, was to speak to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on the issue of Tamilian fishermen being imprisoned by the Sri Lanka government and their boats being confiscated.
"I wanted to convey my grief about the risk to life and livelihoods of Tamil fisherman who go out into the sea for just one square meal," he said, adding that he wanted to urge the President to find some solution to the issue.
He said that he had been lovingly advised by the VCK’s Thol Thirumavalavan, the MDMK’s Vaiko and the Tamilar Vazhvu Urimai Katchi’s Velmurugan through the media, by phone and through friends, to drop his plans.
The three leaders had opposed Rajinikanth’s visit as they said it was a tacit endorsement of the Sri Lankan government, which continued to deny the rights of Tamil people in the country.
"I couldn’t fully accept their reasoning. However, I have decided to take their plea into consideration and not participate," the Kabali star said.