Security has been tightened outside superstar Rajinikanth’s residence at Poes Garden in Chennai after protests by pro-Tamil group Tamilar Munnetra Padai saying ‘Kannadiga shouldn’t rule Tamil Nadu’. The protesters raised slogans after Rajinikant’s dropped hints at joining politics.
Rajinikanth’s statements during a recent meet-and-greet with fans fuelled a years-long buzz about his debut in electoral politics. “The current political situation is such that the system does not think about the people. It does nothing for them. That has to change,” the actor had said on Friday.
The slogan-raising activists burnt an effigy of the actor at the busy Cathedral Road, police said, adding that scores of members of the outfit were detained.
The activists raised slogans against Rajinikanth’s possible entry into politics, an issue which has gained steam following his hints last week that he could take the plunge.
The actor’s Kannada origins are often a focal point of discussion in Tamil Nadu, with pro-Tamil groups raising the pitch whenever the Cauvery river water sharing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka escalates.
Intense speculation has ruled the grapevine for the past couple of days about the Tamil superstar’s entry into politics after Rajinikanth, in an interaction with fans, said that he is a “Pachchai Thamizhan” and asked them to be prepared for “war”. Last week, the superstar said he would join politics if ‘God wants me to’.
Earlier on Friday, while addressing the final day of Rajni-darbar the Tamil superstar said, after living in Tamil Nadu for 43 years and receiving the fans` appreciation, he has now turned into a `true-Tamilian.`
“I am 67 years old. I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and in Tamil Nadu for 43 years. I have lived and grown with you. You have been truly loving and welcoming and made me a true Tamilian. If I have to live anywhere in this world that will be in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Taking the situation in his favour, in an open invitation to Rajinikanth, Union Minister and former BJP president Nitin Gadkari says the BJP has already thought of an ‘appropriate position’ for the superstar. “I have very good relations with Rajinikanth. I meet him whenever I am in Chennai. The last time we discussed politics, he said he was not fit for it. However, if he does join, which I will absolutely look forward to, I would like to tell him that BJP has an appropriate position for him,” said Gadkari.
