Actor Rajinikanth, who on Sunday commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah – likening them to Lord Krishna and Arjuna in Mahabharata – for abrogating the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the State into two Union Territories, has yet again exposed himself to criticism that he is pro-BJP.
The superstar, who had announced his intention to launch a political party ahead of the next Assembly election in Tamil Nadu and follow “spiritual politics” has, in the past, counted veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani among his friends and backed the river inter-linking project, promising to contribute ₹1 crore to the cause.
Mr. Rajinikanth’s position backing the Centre on the Kashmir issue runs contrary to the stand taken by most political parties in Tamil Nadu. It is being seen as a political line to be adopted by him when he launches his party.
In contrast, actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan has taken a largely anti-BJP stand and has described the Centre’s move on Kashmir as regressive, autocratic and a “clear assault on democracy”.
The DMK and its allies have convened an all-party meeting and urged the Centre to send an all-party MPs’ delegation to Jammu and Kashmir to interact with and elicit the opinion of the people.