MNM seeks minister's ouster after 'cut-Haasan's tongue' comments

The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Tuesday sought the removal of a Tamil Nadu minister who said party chief Kamal Haasan's tongue should be cut off for commenting that independent India's "first extremist was a Hindu".

Milk and Dairy Development Minister K T Rajenthira Bhalaji ridiculed MNM's demand and said his remark was made as an "advice" for the actor, in a bid to inform him of the public anger his comments had led to.

He also promised to withdraw his remarks if Haasan expressed regret for his original statement.

MNM general secretary A Arunachalam strongly condemned the senior AIADMK leader's comments, saying it showed that the minister lacked "political ethics and personal dignity".

"As the elected representative of the people and the minister for milk and dairy development, Mr Rajendra Bhalaji has broken the promise he made when he took oath as a minister. So he must be removed from his post immediately," Arunachalam said in a statement.

However, Bhalaji hit out at the MNM's demand and sought to know what violation of oath he had committed and if he was "speaking ill of a particular faith or promoting another."
The Minister said that in public meetings in villages, if someone speaks ill of a particular community, those concerned would respond by "throwing stones" or snap the power supply as "that is how they can show their anger."
Bhalaji demanded to know if the MNM founder would make similar comments against other faiths, adding Haasan has "joined the likes of DMK chief M K Stalin and DK leader K Veeramani who have made it a habit to tease Hindus and Hindu gods."
He also took a jibe at Stalin's poll-time temple visits in 2016 and said, "we go everywhere-- to mosque, temple and church."
He has also backed Haasan's comment, adding he would concur with the actor "not just 100 percent, but 1000 percent."