The Delhi High Court on Wednesday disposed of the petition against Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief and actor Kamal Haasan for his “first Hindu terrorist” remark.
The PIL filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay had also sought directions to the Election Commission to debar candidates and deregistration of parties that “misuse” religion for electoral gains.
Refusing to entertain the PIL against Kamal Haasan, the court asked the petitioner to approach the appropriate forum as the incident took place in Tamil Nadu.
The high court also asked the EC to decide Upadhyay’s representation against the remarks of actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan that “free India’s first extremist was a Hindu”, referring to Nathuram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi.
Earlier on Monday, the BJP leader had moved the poll body seeking a five-day ban on Haasan.
Haasan had made the remarks while campaigning in the Aravakurichi assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
“I am not saying this because many Muslims are here. I’m saying this in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue. First terrorist in independent India is a Hindu – his name is Nathuram Godse,” Haasan said.
Haasan said that he is “seeking answers for that murder”, referring to Gandhi’s assassination in 1948.
BJP leader in Tamil Nadu Tamilisai Soundararajan had accused Haasan of appeasing the minorities.