Kamal Haasan launches new party
madurai — Actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday launched his political party “Makkal Needhi Maiam” (People Justice Centre), which will seek to provide corruptionless governance, stop playing games on the basis of religion and castes and adopt a centrist approach without swaying left or right too much.
He also declared that he will not indulge in the politics of “freebies”, a practice the Dravidian parties have made famous in Tamil Nadu.
The 63-year-old actor took the political plunge with a visit to the residence of late former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram on a hectic day passing by his school and his village in Ramanathapuram before winding up the day with a public meeting here unveiling the party flag and the name.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who addressed the public meeting where the party was launched, hailed Kamal as the new alternative to Tamil Nadu to rout the “corrupt” AIADMK and DMK — a point the actor acknowledged in his speech.
In a video message, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan extended his greetings to Kamal, hoping that his entry into politics will enrich the political life of Tamil Nadu and that he will uphold the ideals of secularism, democracy and pluralism.
In a 45-minute speech, Kamal said his party will be the army for Tamilians’ war for justice. “Kejriwal has started my campaign today itself. As a courtesy I wanted to avoid saying certain things but Kejriwal has launched my political campaign because he knows time is short for me.”
Replying to questions from his fans, Kamal said he will serve the people of Tamil Nadu till his last and would like to leave a party for the next three or four generations. “There will be no permanent Chief Ministers if my party is voted to power,” he said.
“Quality education, elimination of corruption, supply of regular electricity and removal of unemployment will be among the priori- ties. If you eliminate corruption all this can be done.”
He refused to answer queries about criticism by DMK leader M.K. Stalin that paper flowers do not have any fragrance or BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan’s description of him as a bonsai tree and AIADMK minister D. Jayakumar calling him a genetically modified seed that will not grow.
“Should I answer these critics or look at what we have to do,” he said, adding angrily that this sort of remarks against him only shows how the opponents are angry about his entry. The actor took a dig at the Tamil Nadu government, saying his government would not give “quarter” (liquor) to men and scooter to women. In Tamil Nadu, the liquor sale is done by the state government. The government would launch its subsidised scooter scheme on Saturday. “We have to think where we are going. We have facilitated school children to have access to liquor by opening liquor shops everywhere,” he said.
Kamal also said the focus will be on putting a stop to the games played by political parties on the basis of caste and religion. On the Cauvery river water dispute with Karnataka, the new political leader said if proper dialogue is held, then Tamil Nadu could get the water it needs. —
There will be no permanent Chief Ministers if my party is voted to power Kamal Haasan