Rajnikanth denies insulting Kannadigas

BANGALORE: Under fire from pro-Kannada outfits and political party leaders for his reported offensive remarks at people of Karnataka over the protests against Tamil Nadu's Hogenakkal water project, superstar Rajnikant on Sunday rejected the allegation that he had insulted Kannadigas.
    
"It is a malicious propaganda unleashed against me by some people. I am not an unwise person to pass remarks that offend the sentiments of people of Karnataka", Rajnikant, who hails from Karnataka and attained stardom in "Kollywood" (Tamil film industry) said in a pre-recorded statement released to a section of regional television channels here.
    
He clarified that while addressing the fast held by Tamil Film industry in Chennai on Friday, he only decried those who have been creating trouble, asking such people to be "kicked" (odekinu) and was not referring to all.
    
Peeved by the storm of criticism his remarks evoked from Karnataka, including demand for his apology and holding out threats to block screening of his films, the actor said, "Do these people who are demanding my apology represent 5.5 crore Kannadigas?
    
"I have not done any wrong. But I am not averse to tendering apology, if I had committed any wrong", he said, adding "if stalwarts like Parvathamma Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Girish Karnad demanded my apology, I will certainly tender".
    
Though Kannada film industry chose not to react, Kannada protogonist organisations are up in arms and threatened that they would not allow Rajnikant to enter Karnataka and not permit screening of his films.