CHENNAI: Actor Kamal Haasan has become the centre of a political bout between the BJP and Congress after his comments on the right to eat beef, with BJP national secretary H Raja lashing out at him and TNCC president EVKS Elangovan springing to the defence of the versatile actor.
Taking exception to Raja’s attack on Kamal, the Congress leader said the BJP leader had stooped to the level of mud slinging. On Raja’s poser that the name Kamal Haasan itself was Sanskrit and the film star should opt for a Tamil name, Elangovan questioned the sangh parivar’s locus standi when it was bent upon imposing Sanskrit.
Justifying Kamal Haasan’s assertion that he alone could decide the menu on his plate, the Congress leader said there was nothing wrong in that. He also contended that the Constitution itself provided for slaughter of old cows and said the export of beef had gone up by 14 per cent after the BJP government assumed power at the Centre.
He lauded Kamal Haasan’s achievements and added that he was the pride of Tamil Nadu. The Congress leader also condemned Raja’s comments on DK founder EVR Periyar and asked the BJP leader to stop his cheap and derogatory remarks on leaders and famous artistes.