Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday said Nathuram Godse was independent India’s first ‘terrorist’ and he was a ‘Hindu’.
“I am not saying this because this is a Muslim-dominated area, but I am saying this before a statue of Gandhi. First terrorist in independent India is a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse,” he said while campaigning in the town of Aravakurichi in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district on Sunday night.
Kamal Haasan during campaigning in Aravakurichi assembly constituency, Tamil Nadu, yesterday: “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.” pic.twitter.com/LSDaNfOVK0
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2019
Aravakurichi is one of the four Assembly constituencies where bye-polls are scheduled on May 19. Haasan’s party, Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM), has fielded S Mohanraj from that seat.
The 64-year-old actor said he is the Mahatma’s ‘great-grandson in spirit’ and that he came there to question the his assassination.
ALSO READ: Vande Bharat Express to get a ‘back-up’ train with improved facilities
In November 2017, the Tamil mega-star had stoked a controversy by saying that extremism has infected right-wing groups, provoking a confrontation with the BJP.
Earlier this year, Kamal Haasan had blamed the right-wing the widespread protests that erupted in Kerala over the Sabarimala temple issue.
The actor launched his party in February 2018 and fielded candidates in all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.