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United News of India
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- United News of India
Kannada row: Kamal thanks TN for support, DMK too justifies his remark
Chennai, June 4 (UNI) Actor-politician Kamal Hassan, who was mired in a controversy over his Kannada language remarks and the Karnataka High Court to pulling him up for his refusal to apologise, the actor on Wednesday thanked the people of Tamil Nadu for the support and for understanding what he had said, even as the ruling DMK too came in support of him an justified his remark. During the audio release event of his upcoming film 'Thug Life', Kamal had said Kannada language evolved from Tamil, leading to a public uproar a with several pro-Kannada outfits staging protests across Karnataka demanding an apology, besides demanding a ban on the release of the film in that State. Talking to reporters here along the film crew, the actor profusely acknowledged the support he had received from the people of Tamil Nadu. 'I understand the meaning of what I had spoken 'Uyire, Urave, Thamizhe' (Tamil, my life, my lifeline). I should thank the entire state of Tamil Nadu which stood behind me at this hour,' he said, without elaborating further. He also hailed ace director Manirathnam, who had directed the movie and said it was an honour and pleasure to work him him. Meanwhile, the ruling DMK too has justified and defender his remark with Tamil Nadu Minister KN Nehru stating that Kamal had not said anything wrong. 'None wants Kamal to apologise since there is nothing wrong in what he had said. Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada have evolved from Tamil only', he said in Trichy. Kamal's political party Makkal Needhi Maiam is an ally of the DMK-led Front in the State and he was all set enter Parliament for the first time in the next few days having been allotted a Rajya Sabha as part of the pact arrived at during 2024 Lok Sabha elections. DMK ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) too came out in support of the embattled actor stating Kamal need not apologise. VCK General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP D Ravikumar said it was a linguistic fact and that there was no need for the actor to apologise and called for unity among all south Indian languages to fight against Sanskrit hegemony. Despite the raging controversy, Kamal has maintained that his comment was not intended to offend. He said 'If I'm wrong, I'll apologize. If I'm not, I won't.' The MNM launched a campaign by putting up posters across the city with messages such as 'Love will never apologise' and 'Truth will never bow its head.' UNI GV 1910
New Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu parties back Kamal Haasan amid Kannada row, say remarks misinterpreted
CHENNAI: As the controversy over Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan's remarks on Kannada language escalated further, reactions from most political parties in Tamil Nadu remained subdued, unlike their counterparts in Karnataka, who have vehemently and unanimously condemned the actor-politician. The Karnataka HC came down heavily on Haasan on Tuesday for his remark that Kannada was born form Tamil and his refusal to apologise. Despite the developments, the ruling DMK and the Congress in TN, both allies of MNM with the latter being the ruling party in Karnataka, did not release any statement on the issue. However, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai, when contacted, said, he has been responding to queries from the media and has clearly stated that Haasan did not say anything wrong and his remarks have been misunderstood. 'His statement should not be politicised. Democratic forces will stand by him,' Selvaperunthagai said. When reached out for a comment, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said scholars like Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai (Sundaranar) have written about the languages that came out of Tamil and Hassan might have read them and reflected. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan told reporters, 'Attempts are being made to politicise this as a linguistic or ethnic issue.' In a social media post, VCK MP D Ravikumar defended Haasan by citing works of Sundaranar and Robert Caldwell. Warning that regressive forces responsible for all types politics of hatred are behind the controversy, he appealed to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to protect Dravidian unity. NTK leader Seeman saidHaasan only reiterated established views of scholars. 'Are those criticising him experts in linguistics? This is a deliberate attempt to create unrest, and TN will not allow it,' he said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Arms borne by Naxals protect the tribals and Scheduled Castes, claims Thirumavalavan
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan on Monday said that along with the the Left parties, he opposes 'Operation Kagar' (to end Maoist insurgency). He believed that the arms borne by Naxals protect the tribals and members of the Scheduled Castes. Speaking at a protest organised in Egmore, Chennai, against security operation (and alleged excesses) to end Maoist insurgency, Mr. Thirumavalavan claimed Naxalbaris are not anti-people. According to him, they are comrades of the working people. 'You may hate them because they bear arms. But it is the arms they have in their hands that is protecting the tribals and members of the Scheduled Castes,' he claimed. 'If you are annihilating those who are supporting the tribals and [members of the] Scheduled Castes, how can we keep quiet? It is a different matter whether we agree with their point of view (decision to bear arms), but it is a conversation we would like to have with them. But they are living and sacrificing themselves for the people,' he contended. Mr. Thirumavalavan further said, 'BJP is our permanent enemy. We will never be a part of a BJP alliance because we respect Constitution.' According to him, 'they [the Sangh Parivar] want to destroy the Constitution. The Sangh Parivars can never accept the Left political ideology. This is why the VCK is standing with the Left. Operation Kagar cannot be justified in any manner.'
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Panel on cards to erase ‘colony' from names of habitations, govt records
'To guide this process, officials may provide a framework outlining certain conditions for suggestion of names. One such condition could be that the new name should be neutral and non-identifiable in terms of the residents' social background,' a person involved in the discussions shared. In addition to this, villages with names containing an explicit identifier of any of the SCs, especially in an undignified manner, are also expected to be renamed. An alternative idea being floated is for officials to suggest a broad list of names, from which the residents can choose one for their street or locality. The removal of the term 'colony' also involves the extensive process of updating addresses in all official documents of residents, including ration cards, Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, bank passbooks, etc. When contacted by TNIE, writer Imaiyam, vice-chairperson of Tamil Nadu State Commission for SC and ST, said, 'The new names could be inspired by flowers, ancient Tamil poets or even renowned scientists like Newton and Edison, and philosophers such as Socrates and Plato.' VCK MLA Sinthanai Selvan said, 'In no way can the term 'colony' be justified. But the new names should not be common across the state. They should vary from village to village. Perhaps we can simply name the streets using their directions, under the name of the specific village unit.'
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Left, VCK leaders stage protest near police station
Leaders of Left parties and VCK on Tuesday held a demonstration near Thavalakuppam Police Station demanding action against police officers responsible for the alleged assault and illegal detention of a woman working in a resort in Pudukuppam. They raised slogans demanding registration of case against police officers for 'torturing the woman while investigating a theft case reported at the resort'. Addressing a press conference, secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) S. Ramachandran said though the police could not find any evidence suggesting the involvement of the staff in the theft, the woman was illegally detained and physically assaulted. 'It is a serious offence. So, the government should order departmental inquiry and register a case,' he said. Leaders of CPI, VCK and CPI (ML) participated in the protest.
