AIADMK wants Haasan to express regret for remarks on Godse

Keeping up the pressure on Kamal Haasan, the ruling AIADMK Thursday asked the MNM chief to express regret for his "free India's first extremist was a Hindu" remarks and warned that people would boycott him if he tried to "disturb" peace in the State.

The Makkal Needhi Maiam filed a complaint with police and election officials against AIADMK leader and state minister Rajendra Bhalaji, who wanted Haasan's tongue to be cut off for his remarks.

On Sunday, Haasan had said "free India's first extremist was a Hindu", referring to Nathuram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi.

The remarks drew sharp response from the BJP and AIADMK even as the Congress and Dravidar Kazhagam jumped to Haasan's defence.

Targeting the actor-turned-politician, senior AIADMK leader and state Fisheries minister D Jayakumar said in Madurai Thursday that most utterances by Haasan were "unacceptable" and asked him not to "sow seeds of venom."
He recalled that even in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, there was no communal violence in the State as then Chief Minister, the late J Jayalalitha, had handled law and order "with an iron fist."
Earlier, stoking a controversy, Haasan had said "free India's first extremist was a Hindu."