Tamil actor Vijay Sethupathi has slammed the NDA government’s move to abrogate Article 370 without involving the views of the Kashmiris.
In a radio interview with SBS Tamil Australia, he said, “It is against democracy. Periyar had said earlier itself that people themselves should decide on their problems and issues. Can I interfere in the affairs of your house? It is you who live there… I can be concerned about you, but cannot impose my decisions on you. Both these are different.” He also said that the reports he read about Kashmir caused him great pain and reiterated that while people outside Kashmir can be concerned about them, they should not step in and offer suggestions to them. The actor was in Australia to participate in the Indian Film Festival in Melbourne last week.
Vijay Sethupathi’s opinions came shortly after actor-politician Rajinikanth lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for abrogating Article 370 in Kashmir. He congratulated the Modi-Shah duo in a speech in Chennai on Sunday at Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s book launch event. In the event, he said, “Really my heartfelt congratulations for your Mission Kashmir operations, sir. The way you conducted it, hats off, especially the speech you delivered in Parliament, fantastic sir, fantastic.” In his speech, he had also referenced the Modi-Shah duo as Krishna-Arjuna combination from the Bhagavad Gita.
Both these statements come in the wake of protests against the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Kashmir. This move has sparked off massive debate in the country with many supporting it and many opposing as the decision was taken without consulting people living in Kashmir or the leaders. In fact, the NDA government has been criticized for placing Kashmiri leaders under house arrest and blacking out the communication lines in Kashmir before revoking the special status and bifurcating Kashmir. Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the AIADMK welcomed the move in Parliament last week while the opposition party DMK and its allies have strongly condemned it.