HC disposes of plea against Haasan over his remark on Godse

Delhi High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition filed against actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan over his controversial remark that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a 'Hindu terrorist.'

The bench presided by Justice GS Sistani and Justice Jyoti Singh questioned the jurisdiction of the petition filed by BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay and said that he should have approached the Madras High Court as the comment was made in Tamil Nadu.

The petition had sought direction to the Election Commission of India to take appropriate action against Haasan, who is the president of the Makkal Needhi Maiam over his comment that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse is "independent India's first Hindu terrorist."

"Speaking at an election rally for his party candidate in Aravakurichi Assembly constituency, where bypolls will be held on Sunday (May 19), Mr Haasan had said 'the first terrorist post-India's independence is a Hindu. His name is Nathuram Godse'," the petition said.

The court also directed the Election Commission to consider the representation made by Upadhyay.

The EC's counsel told the court that Upadhyay approached before it just two days ago and his complaint is pending.

On May 12, Haasan had stirred a controversy by asserting that first terrorist in independent India was a Hindu, referring to Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.

"I am not saying this because many Muslims are here. I am saying this in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue. The first terrorist in independent India is a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse," Haasan had said while campaigning in Tamil Nadu's Aravakurichi assembly constituency for the by-election.