Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan stoked controversy on Sunday, 17 February, after he asked why the Indian government was “afraid” of holding a plebiscite (referendum) in Kashmir.
Haasan, while speaking at an event in Chennai, also referred to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as “Azad Kashmir.”
“Why do the soldiers die? Why should our home’s watchman die? If politicians on both sides (in India and in Pakistan) behave properly, no soldier needs to die. The Line of Control will be under control,” he said.
He made the statements in response to a question on the 14 February terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
"I truly regret when people say Army men are going to Kashmir to die. The Army itself is an old fashioned thing. Has civilisation not learnt this in the past 10 years?" Haasan questioned.
“I have written about the Kashmir issue... I mourn this day because I forecasted that this is what will happen,” he added.
“Hold plebiscite and make people talk... why have they not conducted it? What are they scared of? They want to divide the nation, that's all. Why don't you ask them again? They won't do it? Now it (Kashmir) belongs to India, the same situation prevails across the border," Haasan had said.
‘Remarks Taken Out of Context’
Expecting flak over the actor-turned-politician’s remarks, his party MNM issued a statement claiming that Haasan’s words had been twisted by the media.
"Makkal Needhi Maiam strongly condemns the report... which has completely twisted the words of our Party President Kamal Haasan out of context. Our president and our party stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces in this hour of grief," the statement said.
Haasan also issued a clarification, saying that “plebiscite was an option available at one point of history but is no longer relevant.”
The party also reiterated Haasan’s stance, saying that the remarks were made in the context of a magazine article published “three decades ago about an option that was available at one point in time of history.”
"We firmly believe that entire Kashmir is an integral part of India and we stand firmly with our armed forces, para-military and central forces who defend it selflessly," the party statement said.
(With inputs from Smitha Tarur)
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