Chennai: Even as one minister after another picked up a stone larger to hammer him for his 'blasphemous' corruption comment, actor Kamal Haasan is getting wholesome approval from political leaders of all hues, except those from the ruling AIADMK. Not to forget the flood of support from the non-political class, from the commoner at the teashop to the elite thinker on social media.
“It's easy to see why these ministers are getting so angry with Kamal Haasan; they are worried that his popular voice travels far and wide, and sink the naked truth deeper in the public mind”, said CPI (M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan.
Turning the screw sharper into their bleeding wound, the senior Marxist said the AIADMK leaders and ministers “should not forget” that their general secretary Sasikala was now in jail convicted in a corruption case.
Instead of coming up with appropriate response to Kamal's charge-'there's corruption in every department'-the ministers were abusing and intimidating him, and asking him if he had paid taxes on his films, he said.
It was the turn of PMK spokesman K. Balu to take on finance minister D. Jayakumar for attacking Kamal saying he spoke only now and had no guts to do that while Jayalalithaa was alive. “Now everyone in the party and the government breaks into a robust speech whenever there is a TV mike; did any of these ministers have the guts to open their mouths when their Amma (Jayalalithaa) was alive?” asked Balu, adding; “Now the tail is wagging fiercely as there is no head”.
“Besides, it's true that corruption in the state is assuming grave proportions. There was corruption during Jayalalithaa's tenure but now it's like tsunami”, Balu said.
Earlier in the day, finance minister Jayakumar joined the band of angry ministers telling Kamal to refrain from making “generalised comments”. Also, the actor should make his comments only after entering politics. “But he has no guts for that (politics)”, he said, adding that the ministers are responding “only because there's not an iota of truth and it's just mudslinging on the government”. His cabinet colleagues have been heaping abuse on Kamal for his corruption charge-C Ve Shanmugam, in particular, had turned the torchlight on the actor's personal life while telling him to shut up.
The rival AIADMK faction chief O. Panneerselvam was more pragmatic in his response.
“Everyone is entitled to express opinion in a democracy. That right cannot be taken away by those in power. It will be a good democratic approach to give a proper reply to a differing opinion,” he told reporters.
DMK leader M K Stalin pointed out that his party too has been raising the issue of corruption in the government. “So are you (AIADMK) ready to file case against us also? If yes, we are ready to face it in court,” he said.
Kerala Women Commission slams Tamil media
Kerala Women's Commission on Monday slammed Tamil newspapers and television channels for publishing the name of the actor sexually assaulted when actor Dileep was arrested in connection with the case.
M. C. Josephine, chairperson, KWC, sought immediate intervention of the TN Women's Commission and Tamil Nadu Public Relations Director.
Several Tamil newspapers, television channels, magazines and websites in Tamil Nadu have been regularly publishing the name and picture of the woman actor who was abducted and sexually assaulted early this year. Josephine also demanded that the media organisations that have breached law be slapped with appropriate action.
"Kerala Women's Commission will take stringent action on those people spreading malicious campaigns in online magazines, websites and on social media," said Josephine.
She also requested the newspapers and online portals to remove the actors' picture and names mentioned in the articles.
