The term Dravidian must be expanded beyond Tamil Nadu to all southern states to get a better deal from the Centre, actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan said on Thursday.
The term Dravidian must be expanded beyond Tamil Nadu to all southern states to get a better deal from the Centre, actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan said on Thursday.
"Dravidian is not related to Tamil Nadu alone. If we celebrate Dravidian across South India this discrimination would end. We could speak in chorus with Delhi," he said, according to an NDTV report.
The actor wrote that Tamil Nadu was among the top states contributing significantly to the nation's tax revenue. "Some say that (the Centre) is collecting taxes here (Tamil Nadu) and using it to develop north Indian states. My opinion is that is how it works in a joint family," he added.
As reported by The Times of India, Kamal Haasan let out a clarion call to the chief ministers of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala to find pride in embracing their Dravidian identities.
To illustrate his opinion, Kamal cited the example of Lord Shiva. "There is no shame in being known as the Shiva of south India. It just shows that He is omnipresent in all the (southern) states. Dravidianism is like (Shiva)," he wrote, before adding a disclaimer: "I am not advocating the dissolution of Tamil or other languages to create a combined, common tongue. Ethnicity, self-respect and love for your language should not change. This applies to all of India. (What I advocate) is what Nehru observed - unity in diversity."
On Wednesday, amid hype over their political entry, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, today shared the dais at a function here with the former saying only time will tell whether he will forge an alliance with the latter, who seconded the view.
Asked about forging ties with Haasan, who is set to embark on a political tour next month, Rajinikanth said, "only time will be able to tell that. Let us see in due course of time."
Asked to react on Rajinikanth's views, Haasan expressed his support for the same saying, "Time is a good medicine for everything. I second it."
To a question on spiritual politics, Haasan said they would be following their own respective lines of political thought.
Asked about his political tour commencing on February 21, Haasan said, "I want people to realise their strength and that is the strength of the nation as well."
The veteran actors were at a function where the puja for the film 'Kizhakku Africavil Raju' (Raju in East Africa) was being conducted.
The movie is being planned as a sequel "in motion capture technology" to AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran starrer, the 1973 superhit 'Ulagam Sutrum Valiban,' film industry sources said.
Rajinikanth, who had announced on December 31 that he would form his party before the next state assembly polls, snapped the clapboard and Haasan inaugurated the shoot.
The sequel to the movie could not be done at that time as MGR got fully engaged in politics.
Asked what would be his stand in case state assembly polls were held in six months, Rajinikanth told reporters: "I will face it definitely."
He extended his greetings to Haasan on announcing his political entry.
To a question if parties in the state followed the principles of late AIADMK founder and former chief minister M G Ramachandran, he said "yes definitely, to some extent." State Ministers C Vijayabaskar and Kadambur C Raju, were present at the function.
Rajinikanth and Haasan had shared the dais in Malaysia earlier this month for a fund-raising event held by the 'Nadigar Sangam' here, known officially as the South Indian Film Artistes Association.
Haasan has said he would announce his political party's name on February 21 at Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram and begin a state-wide tour the same day.
"At the commencement of the journey, I intend to announce the name of my political party along with the guiding principles we intend to live by," Haasan said in a statement yesterday.
With PTI Inputs
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth recently entered politics")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}