The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Tuesday demanded the removal of Tamil Nadu Minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji for the latter’s remark that party chief Kamal Haasan’s tongue should be cut.
In a statement, the MNM said that Bhalaji’s comment is a violation of the constitutional oath taken by him during his swearing in as a Minister.
Bhalaji, the Minister for Milk and Dairy Development and an AIADMK leader, said on Monday, “His tongue should be cut off..he has said (free India’s first extremist) was a Hindu. Extremism has no religion, neither Hindu nor Muslim nor Christian.”
He also sought a ban on Kamal Haasan’s party for “sowing violence”.
“Why are you spewing venom. Every word (Haasan utters) is venom. Haasan’s party which is sowing violence should be banned and the Election Commission should act against him,” he added.
Haasan was criticised for his ‘Hindu terrorist’ remark at a rally in Aravakuruchi Assembly constituency on Sunday night.
“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.
Nathuram Vinayak Godse shot Mahatma Gandhi dead in New Delhi on 30 January 1948.
The BJP on Monday moved the Election Commission seeking a five-day ban on Haasan.
BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, who filed the complaint, said that Haasan’s statement was intended to outrage religious feelings of Hindus and also breached the Model Code of Conduct.