‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth’s political journey appears to have ruffled a few feathers even before it takes off.
A radical pro-Tamil group protested in front of Rajinikanth’s residence, opposing his entry into politics, following which the security has been tightened around his house at Poes Garden.
Tamilar Munnetra Padai, an outfit headed by Ms. K. Veeralakshmi, staged a protest near his residence condemning remarks made by Rajnikanth. The outfit believes that Rajinikanth, being a Kannadiga, cannot become a leader in Tamil Nadu.
Police put up a cordon outside Rajnikanth’s house in Chennai today as the group tried to lay siege. Some of the protesters even tried to heckle the cops guarding Rajini's residence.
They also burnt an effigy of the actor, besides shouting slogans.
Though Rajinikanth has maintained that he has no political aspirations, there has been speculation around the actor possibly launching his own political outfit to fill in the void that has been left in state politics after the demise of popular Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
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.
In what appeared to be another statement of political intent, Rajinikanth had urged his fans to wait for the “impending war”.
In no less than a vote appeal he also sought the support of his fans saying, " Go home and do your work. The day we have to fight the war, we will take care of it. I will call you when there's a war. You come then. In the old days all men would go when there was a war," said Rajinikanth on the final day of his five-day initiative in Chennai to meet fans from all over Tamil Nadu.
