'Old-timers' Rajinikanth, Duraimurugan bury hatchet for now.

CHENNAI: Seeking to bury the hatchet with actor Rajinikanth, senior DMK minister Duraimurugan on Monday said that he and Rajini would remain friends forever and no one must try to promote enmity between them.

Talking to media persons in his native Vellore, Duraimurugan this morning said, “No one shall try to misuse our ‘comedy’ to promote enmity.”

Seconding Rajinikanth’s views, Duraimurugan said, “I am also echoing the same views. Rajini and I are good friends. We will continue to be good friends.”

Also read: Instruction must’ve come from above for Rajnath Singh to praise Kalaignar, says Rajinikanth

Duraimurugan’s clarification, which was believed to have been issued at the behest of the DMK high command, comes in the backdrop of the actor telling media persons at the city airport Monday morning that he and Duraimurugan are good friends no matter what he said.

“Respectable Duraimurugan is a long time friend. Whatever he says our friendship will continue,” Rajinikanth said, when asked about Duraimurugan telling media persons on Sunday that aged actors who have lost their teeth must make way for young actors.

The war of words between the actor and the senior most minister in the current cabinet started after Rajinikanth, speaking at the release of the book “Kalaignar ennum thaai” authored by Minister E V Velu last week, likened chief minister M K Stalin’s handling of the old guard in the DMK to a class teacher “struggling” with old students and said that hats off to Stalin for his handling of the old guard who refuse to leave the ‘classroom’.

State Sports minister and DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi, in a veiled endorsement of Rajini’s views, used the dais to demand a fair share of the pie for the youngsters in the party from the leadership.

Minister's olive branch after Stalin rap?

CHENNAI: Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin appear to have given his party general secretary and senior most minister Duraimurugan an earful for his undesirable remarks targeting actor Rajinikanth. Shortly after Duraimurugan vented his anger at the actor, the DMK chief, party sources disclosed, conveyed his strongest displeasure to Duraimurugan through party MP S Jegathrakshakan.

Not content with it, Stalin is said to have personally spoken to his general secretary moments later in such tone and tenor that Duraimurugan did not waste any time in calling Rajinikanth and expressing regret over his innocuous but detestable comments.

If sources in the party are to be believed, Rajinikanth also called Stalin after his interaction with Duraimurugan and requested him to give the issue a silent burial.