Haasan confirms launching a political party, asks fans for funds
After months of suspense, Kamal Haasan declared that he will soon be launching his own political party. He made this announcement at the 39th anniversary of his fan/welfare association Narpani Iyakkam. The actor said the first step will be launching a mobile app on November 7, his birthday, to keep in touch with fans and track the donations he receives from them. Here's more!
What did Haasan say about his political party?
Haasan said the launch will happen in a "calm manner." Declaring that launching the party would require Rs. 30cr, he urged fans to contribute. He asserted that there is no shame in "begging" for people's welfare. Taunting PM Modi's promise of bringing back black money, Haasan further said he won't deposit the funds in Swiss banks but will bring back money lodged there.
Haasan also spoke on issues related to the environment
Haasan urged fans to get involved in providing relief in TN's flood-ravaged areas as natural disasters don't differentiate between rich and poor. Asserting that preventive measures should be taken, he said his birthday November 7 is not a day to cut cake but to build canals. Haasan who was joined by environmental activists noted the need to protect the environment.
Haasan insists he is not against the rich
Haasan clarified that he is not against the rich, but prefers the "honest rich." He said if the rich pay their taxes properly, country's problems will be solved. He had earlier underlined the necessity of like-minded people coming together to combat corruption and communalism.
Haasan again takes on the saffron brigade by the horns!
Referring to the defamation case filed against him for alleging that Hindu terrorism exists, Haasan said jails will run out of space if government jails people for saying the truth. He added, "Terrorism is different from extremism. I don't preach my ideology to others. I am a rationalist." Further, "it doesn't matter how many people oppose us. What matters is what we do."
In a veiled reference, Yogi calls Haasan anti-national
In an indirect reference to Haasan, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said those individuals talking about intolerance and Hindu terrorism are anti-nationals. He called secularism "the biggest lie in independent India." Emphasizing that "Hinduism is a culture and way of living," he said Hindus respect all religions, thus teaching tolerance to the world. However, he said this doesn't mean anyone can call Hindus terrorists.
Meanwhile, how has Haasan been preparing for his political entry?
Meanwhile, Haasan has been making politically-charged statements and has reached out to Chennai's fishing and farming communities to discuss their problems. Inspired by AAP, the superstar has spoken of recruiting youngsters and resorting to crowd-funding for ensuring transparency. However, he won't take anything lying down. He said he is ready to take a beating but is not a "mridangam" to take a beating repeatedly.
