Hasaan's speech taken out of context: MNM leader

Chennai: Days after actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan stoked a controversy by claiming that the first extremist of independent India was a Hindu, Haasan’s party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) moved into a damage control mode by issuing an explanatory statement.

On Tuesday, MNM vice-president R. Mahendran issued a statement saying that Hasaan’s speech was completely taken out of context and that he was calling for religious tolerance and co-existence. Hasaan’s speech has been twisted at the behest of certain political groups with mala fide intent

Earlier on Sunday Haasan while campaigning for party candidate S Mohanraj at Aravakkurichi that the first terrorist in free India was a Hindu in a reference to Nathuram Ghodse.

Hasaan’s speech had been painted as anti-Hindu. “This has created confusion and anxiety among the citizens who are not privy to the larger conspiracy,” he said adding that the media play the entire speech so that it is understood in the right context by the people and the malicious intent of some groups is exposed, Mahendran added.