Chennai: Superstar Rajinikanth welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya and said just as he respected the order, all people irrespective of religion and region should respect it in national interests.
Quick to provide the sound bytes on the Ayodhya verdict to TV cameras outside his Poes Garden bungalow, Rajini stressed the importance of maintaining peace and camaraderie among people of all religions “for the sake of the welfare and economic growth of our country”.
“I appeal to all to shun religious differences and work together for the sake of our country. Vanakkam. Jai Hind”, he said and hastened to get back into the house -perhaps to avoid getting into another bout of provocative exchanges with the media persons since his Friday statement on the ‘saffron trap’ had created big buzz in the media and political circles, even leading to the quick and easy conclusion that he was distancing himself from the BJP.
Another interesting element noticed in this Ayodhya reaction from the superstar was his sporting a large tilak during the brief session before the TV cameras.
Such a 'loud' statement of faith during a media interaction is rather unusual for Rajini - perhaps he was conveying a message that he has not really strayed away from saffron or, maybe, he had just done his pooja in the house and stepped out for a short statement since the journalists were pressing for his reaction to the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya.
In fact, even his Friday statement alleging attempts to get him into the saffron trap and his assertion, amid that loud signature laughter, that he would not be caught in it just as Thiruvalluvar would not get caught, was all in response to pointed questions from the media persons and not made suo motu with a view to drive in a political message that he is not saffron.
Some have also interpreted that statement as his anguish at the opposition politicians and some media persons rubbing saffron on him because of his pro-Modi comments in the past, and not aimed at the BJP leadership.
