Rajinikanth cancels Sri Lanka trip after Tamil groups protest
Tamil actor Rajinikanth announced on Saturday that he would not attend a controversial event in Sri Lanka after receiving criticism from Tamil groups, including Viduthalai Chriuthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).
“I will not be participating in the event, though I disagree with reasons given by Vaiko and Thirumavalavan (MDMK and VCK leaders),” the actor said in a statement. Rajinikanth said he wanted to visit Sri Lanka “...to be a part of charity work that will benefit Sri Lankan Tamils and to interact with my people”.
“I also wanted to see the soil where Tamils fought and lost their lives for self respect and self determination,” the actor said.
Rajinikanth was supposed to launch a housing scheme for Tamils displaced by the Lankan civil war at the event that was scheduled to take place in Jaffna on April 9. He had to hand over the keys of 150 houses built by the Lyca Group’s Gnanam Foundation.
VCK leader Thirumavalavan had on Friday asked the actor not to attend the event. “I have no personal agenda against Rajinikanth. We are good friends. But I strongly oppose his decision to visit Sri Lanka and participate in an event organised by Lyca, which has business ties with Sri Lankan government,” Thirumavalavan said, adding that Sri Lanka was yet to rehabilitate Tamils displaced by the war. Rajinikanth, however, added, “I would like to say that I am not a politician. I am an actor. Making people happy is my job and if I get an opportunity to go and meet the Sri Lankan Tamils in the future, I request you to please not politicise the visit and allow me to meet them and entertain them.”