Kamal Haasan stirred a hornet’s nest when on 12th May he called Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist. The actor-politician said at Pallapatti in Tamil Nadu, “Independent India’s first extremist was a Hindu,” referring to Nathuram Godse. The BJP, Shiv Sena and AIADMK condemned his remarks while the Congress’ Tamil Nadu unit and Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) backed him. The BJP petitioned the Election Commission to ban him from campaigning further.
An FIR against Kamal was filed by the Tamil Nadu police on 14th for his remark, under sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with outraging religious feelings and promoting enmity between different groups respectively. Minister K.T. Rajendira Bhalaji wanted the tongue of Kamal Haasan, who is the chief of the Makkal Needhi Maiyam party, to be chopped off for having uttered the words. Firebrand AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, however, supported Kamal.
On 15th May, Kamal clarified that he only spoke a historic truth. He moved an anticipatory bail petition before the Madras high court bench in Madurai after it refused to entertain his earlier petition, seeking quashing of the FIR against him. The MNM also filed complaints with the police in Madras and Tiruchirappalli against minister K.T. Rajendira Bhalaji for his tongue-cutting remark.