Row erupts over MNM president’s Jammu-Kashmir ‘plebiscite’ reference

Sharing some of his random thoughts on the Kashmir issue at an event here largely attended by students on Sunday, the actor- cum-politician deprecated ‘jihadists’ being glorified in Pakistan.

He also indicated casualties can be avoided if the leadership of India and Pakistan “behaved properly.”

“Why plebiscite - to get to know everyone’s view – was not held there. Why it was not done? What is their fear? The country was ripped apart into two (India and Pakistan). Why don’t you ask them (people of J & K) again, they (political leadership) won’t do it.”

On the recent killing of 40 CRPF jawans at Pulwama, he said, “If there is bleeding, the first job is to stop it...to talk immediately of surgery (indicating surgical strike was not an option) is... (pauses for a moment).”  

In the same breath, he said, “..surgery should also be arranged... Okay but when there is blood loss, place cloth or ice to ensure coagulation, so that there is no further loss (of blood).

“I mourn this day,” he said and recalled that years ago when he ran a magazine he had predicted “exactly,” that such things would happen in Jammu and Kashmir.

Kamal condemned jihadists being glorified by putting them on a stature similar to that of sport stars in Pakistan.  In so called “Azad Kashmir,” big posters on trains could be seen glorifying jihadists and “that is madness too.”

India should not repeat such madness and we have to “prove that India is far better country.”

On the Pulwama attack, he said killing of 40 CRPF personnel was ‘heinous,’ “but considering that, if your parents tell you to not join the Army, just tell them that more people die in road accidents in Tamil Nadu than in the Army.”

He recalled that when he made this pointed observation at the Officers Training Academy here earlier, they were very happy. Citing a view that there was unemployment, he said “there are lots of opportunities in the Army. Whether we have the valour to join Army is the question.”

“Those who are qualified could even get higher positions in the Army,” he said. “One thing, I truly regret is when you say that army soldiers go (join army) only to die, I don’t believe..,” he said and wondered why soldiers should die.

“If the two politicians behave properly, there is no need for any solider to die, the Line of Control will be under control,” he said in an obvious reference to the leadership of India and Pakistan. Kamal said the concept of an “army itself is old fashioned thing,” and beating one another will have to be stopped one day.

Before Kamal spoke on the attack and his views over it, the event anchor told the gathering that the MNM chief had spoken to the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor K Vijay Kumar on the matter and wondered if any other politician from Tamil Nadu would have done that.

In the wake of a controversy over the ‘plebiscite reference’ by Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan in his address to a group of students on Sunday, the actor on Monday clarified that his address has been quoted out of context. He said that plebiscite is “no longer relevant” and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The actor-turned-politician was reacting to the Pulwama terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in which over 40 jawans were killed on February 14. “When I was running a magazine called ‘Maiyam,’ I wrote on the Kashmir issue and what is expected. Hold plebiscite and make people talk...why have they not conducted it? What are they scared of? They want to divide the nation, that’s all. Why don’t you ask them again? They won’t do it,” said the MNM chief. Dwelling on Kashmir and problems plaguing the region, Kamal Haasan said, “Why do soldiers die? Why should those guarding our home die? If both sides (India and Pakistan) behave properly, no soldier needs to die. The Line of Control will be under control.” While putting out a clarification, Kamal said his comments on plebiscite were in the context of a magazine which he edited decades ago.