Rajini’s old interview in DD on politics and spiritualism becomes subject of troll now

Chennai

“Both cannot be compared, and it should not be compared. Both are like snake and mongoose which goes in opposite directions,” he says in a reply to a question asking to compare politics and spiritualism. Now Rajinikanth being trolled on the social media wondering what changed in between with the actor promising to usher in the Caste-Religion free spiritual politics in the state.

Some even attributed spiritual politics to the influence of BJP. Though the actor had in the past stated that there has been an attempt to smear “saffron” colour on him and it won’t stick, his political opponents are likely to project him as someone propped up by the BJP.

“Actor Rajinikanth wanted to project himself as a right-wing politician. By appointing a person who was BJP’s state intellectual cell secretary, as his party’s chief coordinator. The appointment raises the question of under what pressure he did that. Though he doesn’t want to be identified with the BJP, the appointment of an ex-BJP office-bearer shows that he cannot function independently without the BJP’s influence. In Tamil Nadu, BJP was unable to create its foothold and they want to make an entry through Rajinikanth. He will be another face of BJP in the state,” said VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan in a video posted on the social media.

Bernard D’Sami, a senior fellow at Loyola Institute of Social Science Training and Research (LISSTAR), Chennai said that Rajinikanth used key terms like secular and spiritual politics during his announcement. “If he is going to work for secular-spirituality, there is nothing like that. He will be first person to transcend caste and religion to take people to greater heights. But he is talking about spirituality based on religion. In that way, we must wait and see how he is going to develop his party, who is his support base and whom he is going to target,” he said.

After meeting Rajini at his residence on Saturday along with Ra Arjunamurthy, chief organiser, Tamilaruvi Manian, political advisor and overseer of the proposed party said that there is no religion or caste for spiritualism. “Don’t even think that Rajinikanth will act in favour of one religion or he will be against some religions. His spiritual politics is for all section of the people. There is no link between spiritual politics and communal politics. Spiritual politics is not invented by Rajinikanth but first introduced by Mahatma Gandhi to put public welfare above their own self,” he said.