Tamil stars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan on Monday expressed concern over the violence that erupted in the backdrop of the jallikattu protests and called for restraint by the agitating students.
Rajinikanth said the protests by the students ‘should be etched in golden letters’ in Indian history and has drawn wide attention as people from various walks of life like youth and women had supported them and carried forward the dignified and peaceful protests. “At this juncture, I am grieved to see certain incidents,” he said in an apparent reference to the violence and the police crackdown.
He said some “anti-social elements” were now trying to bring disrepute to the students’ movement and the goodwill earned by them and asked them not to allow this. “You should not allow them to bring disrepute to your movement and goodwill, besides the police who have been supportive of your protests,” he said. “I humbly request you to immediately end this protest,” he said in a statement.
With the Centre and state government assuring for a permanent solution for the conduct of the sport, “we have to respect that,” he said.
Responding to the developments, Haasan took to twitter in order to extend his support to students and youth. He also urged them not to resort to violence.
While appealing them to maintain calm, Kamal Haasan in a series of tweets also informed the protesters that he has taken up the matter With Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The 62-year-old actor also sought to know why police took action when the students were waiting to see what decision the Tamil Nadu assembly took on the matter.