Click to play videoNew Delhi: Under fire from pro-Kannada outfits and political party leaders for his reported remarks about the protests in Karnataka against the Hogenakkal water project, superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday rejected the allegation that he insulted Kannadigas.
He has clarified that during the fast by members of the Tamil film industry in Chennai last week, he only criticised those who were creating trouble saying that such people be ‘kicked.’
He said he was not referring to all. The actor was upset by the storm of criticism his remarks evoked in Karnataka, which included a demand for his apology.
"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 the people of Karnataka," he said.
Upset by the storm of criticism his remarks evoked in Karnataka, including a demand for his apology and threats to block screening of his films, the actor said: "Do these people who are demanding my apology represent 5.5 crore Kannadigas?”
"I haven't done any wrong. But I am not averse to tendering an apology if I had committed any wrong," he said.
Kannada group snubs star
Pro-Kannada group, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, has rejected Rajinikanth’s clarifications and said it wants an apology from the actor and the Tamil film industry.
“The Tamil film industry and Rajinikanth should ask for pardon or we won't let their films run here. Should they want to come to Karnataka we won't let them enter our land. Rajinikanth said we are beating Tamilians in Karnataka but that is a wrong statement,” said D P Anjanappa, Bangalore unit president of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.
In 2002, Rajinikanth became the target of attack after he refused to participate in the Tamil film industry's rally on the Cauvery issue.
He then went on a much-publicised fast asking for a peaceful settlement and interlinking rivers.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Saturday announced that the Hogenakkal drinking water project, that had sparked off bitter protests across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, will be on hold till elections in Karnataka are over.
Karunanidhi's breather came after widespread protests in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Hogenakkal project.
Karunanidhi has said that the violence should not spread in the name of Hogenakkal during elections in Karnataka.
(With agency inputs)
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