Veteran actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday launched his political party, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (People’s Justice Centre), projecting himself as a serious alternative to the Dravidian majors in Tamil Nadu.
Explaining where his ideology lay, he said, “People are asking me if I am left or right (in ideology). That’s why we have ‘maiam’ (centre) in our party (name). We will absorb all good things from whichever direction they come.”
He promised to strive to offer quality education for all, end propaganda on caste and religious lines, provide uninterrupted electricity supply and eradicate corruption. He also aspired to forge ties among the southern States as a federal concept. “Today is the day to speak up (against corruption) and tomorrow is for action,” he said to loud cheers.
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Mr. Haasan, who commenced his political journey with a road show originating from the house of former President APJ Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram, hoisted his party’s flag in front of a mammoth gathering here.
He was cheered among others by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who saw in the actor the potential to dislodge the Dravidian parties.
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Significantly, Mr. Haasan’s party did not have the suffix Katchi (Party) or Kazhagam that have become synonymous with Dravidian politics.
Explaining his party flag – a white background with six human hands, three each in black and red, forming a circle with a big black star and a smaller white star within it – the actor said, the six hands represented the “new South India”, the six southern States, (including Union Territory of Puducherry) and the star denoted the people.
He identified Ambedkar, Gandhi, Nehru and Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Delhi – Chandrababu Naidu, Pinarayi Vijayan (who greeted him via videoconferencing) and Kejriwal – and former U.S. President Barack Obama among leaders from whom he could pick up lessons.
Responding to a question, posed in writing in advance, he said he had a solution to resolve the Cauvery dispute through “proper dialogue” and stoking the humanness among the people of Karnataka. “Not only water, we can even get blood,” he said, adding, “I am referring to blood donation. People from Bengaluru generously helped Tamil Nadu during tsunami and floods.”