Tamil Nadu Minister Dares Kamal Haasan To Join Politics

Chennai: With the ruling AIADMK continuing to target actor Kamal Haasan on Monday, opposition parties as well as former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam rallied around the actor.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister D. Jayakumar told reporters here on Monday that Kamal Haasan should enter politics "if he has the guts".

On Kamal Haasan's comments about corruption in Tamil Nadu government departments, Jayakumar said the actor is indulging in mudslinging and they will not keep quiet.

The actor is also being targeted for hosting the Tamil version of reality show Bigg Boss -- with calls to ban it for "tarnishing Tamil culture" -- and a "demeaning" comment made by a participant.

Jayakumar also wondered why Kamal Haasan was silent when J. Jayalalithaa was alive and heading the government.

In the midst of the attack, coming to the actor's support was former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam who said that in a democracy everybody has a right to express their views.

Panneerselvam said the ministers should counter the charges with proof instead of threatening the actor.

On Sunday, state Law Minister C.V. Shanmugam said action should be taken against Kamal Haasan for the comment "slum dweller like behaviour" made by a participant on the Bigg Boss show.

Similarly, Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani had earlier challenged Kamal Haasan to prove corruption in the government, and also asked the actor if he was ready to share the details of taxes paid by him for his films.

Meanwhile, DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Sunday came to the support of the actor, condemning Tamil Nadu ministers for their utterances against him.

In a statement, Stalin said that Kamal Haasan, like any other citizen, has only reflected what the people of Tamil Nadu feel about the AIADMK government in the state.

In a democracy, the rulers have to correct their mistakes and also explain their position when criticisms are levelled against them, he added.

According to G. Ramakrishnan, CPI-M state secretary, the ministers should refute the actor with proof.