Madras HC grants Kamal anticipatory bail over 'Godse' remark

A day after Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan stood by his remark that Nathuram Godse was the “first Hindu extremist” of India, the Madras High Court on Monday (May 20) granted anticipatory bail to the actor-turned-politician from arrest after cases were filed against him over his remarks.

Kamal during a recent election campaign at Aravakurichi in Tamil Nadu, had said that “independent India’s first extremist was a Hindu”, referring to Nathuram Godse who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.

The Tamil Nadu government, said 76 complaints have been received against the actor, NDTV reported. At least two police complaints were filed against him and he was accused of “promoting enmity between different groups”, the NDTV report said.

Kamal has drawn flak from several groups over his remarks.

Reacting to his remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, “In my culture and in my limited knowledge, no Hindu can ever be a terrorist and if he is a terrorist, he can never be a Hindu.”