Actor Rajinikanth's recent comments on the 'corrupt political system in Tamil Nadu' have not gone down well with the ruling AIADMK government in the state. Minister for Municipal Administration SP Velumani has retaliated with a strong response to the superstar.
Talking to multiple news channels, the leader, who belongs to the Edappadi Palaniswami faction, said, “The government is functioning well. Rajini’s criticism is highly condemnable. We have a Chief Minister who is visiting many places and is striving to resolve people’s problems."
The Minister further questioned Rajinikanth's alleged failure to support actor Sathyaraj when pro-Kannada groups forced him to tender an apology for remarks that he had made close to decade ago. “If Rajini is a person who walks the talk, why did he not raise his voice in support of Sathyaraj, hounded by Kannada chauvinists?” the Minister reportedly asked.
During his speech on Friday, Rajinikanth had praised DMK’s Stalin for his administrative capabilities, said that PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss is a knowledgeable visionary with great ideas, that VCK leader Thirumavalavan was a good politician working for the benefit of Dalits and that Naam Thamilar Katchi’s Seeman was a great speaker with remarkable opinions. But he alleged that the system was corrupt and needed to be changed.
This open criticism of the current government is being seen by several politicians and experts as the superstar's first step towards joining politics.