'Kashmir integral part of India': Kamal Haasan clarifies his 'plebiscite statement'
Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan, who stroked a controversy on Sunday by raking up the demand of a plebiscite in Kashmir, on Monday clarified his remarks. Clarifying his comments today, the actor-turned-politician said that 'plebiscite is "no longer relevant" and Kashmir is an integral part of India', NDTV website reported.
Addressing a student gathering on Sunday, Haasan had said, "Why wasn't plebiscite held in Kashmir, making people talk about it? What are they afraid of?"
“In Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), they are using jihadis’ pictures in trains to portray them as heroes. That is a foolish thing to do. India also behaves with an equal amount of foolishness. It's not fair. If we want to prove that India is a far better country, then we should not behave like this. There begins the politics, there beings the new political culture,” he said.
Condemning the deaths of 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwama, Haasan said he had predicted such an eventuality while writing on Kashmir.
“Why should a soldier die? If politicians on both sides behave properly, there is no need for a soldier to die. The line of control will be under control… When I was running a magazine called 'Maiyam', I wrote about the Kashmir issue and what is to be expected. I mourn this day because I predicted that this is what will happen. I should have predicted something else,” he said.
However, shortly after his remarks were reported in the media, his party issued a statement claiming Haasan’s remarks had been taken out of context. "We firmly believe that entire Kashmir is an integral part of India and we stand firmly with our armed forces, para-military and central police forces who defend it selflessly,” the statement said, adding that the party and the chief stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces in his hour of grief.
(With inputs from agencies)
