Actor Kamal Haasan, who recently faced criticism for saying that he will not return his National Awards like his Bollywood counterparts in protest against growing intolerance, clarified on Saturday that his comments should not be construed as if he was leaning towards the one party or covertly condoning intolerance.
“They said that my comments were against the Scheduled Caste community. How is it so? Should Mahatma Gandhi also have returned his law degree to the British government simply because he was against it? The National Awards were given to me not by this or that party-run government but by an eminent jury of 12 members. Giving back the awards would be like insulting the jury and I won’t do it,” the actor said at the annual event organised by his fans to celebrate his birthday.
He added, “I will voice against any government if it impinges on individual freedom and liberty of my fellow citizens. I am raising my voice against intolerance right here. I have done it without any party-bias.”
Mr. Haasan, who turned 61 on Saturday, said that there were many ways to register dissent against the government. “Podiums and forums can be used to register dissent. Those who talk about tolerance must also talk about us rationalists who put up with Islamic call to prayer and Ayyappa songs all around us,” he said. Speaking about the ‘beef ban’ controversy, the actor said: “I used to eat beef, but not anymore. I will say don’t eat beef, not for religious reasons, but because there is evidence to show that it is bad for health. But if you don’t like beef, don’t eat it,” he said. The actor mentioned he was aggrieved by the accusations that he has switched sides ever since PM Modi nominated him to participate in the Swachch Bharat campaign and his subsequent comment about not returning the National Awards. “ I felt as though my honesty was being questioned. I have earned many wounds trying to practise honesty in public life,” Mr. Haasan said. The actor also sought to broaden the definition of ‘tolerance,’ arguing that rationalists are tolerating incursion of religion almost on a daily basis.
