Actor-politician Rajinikanth has come out in support of the government’s move last week to nullify Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. At a speech in Chennai on Sunday, Rajinikanth congratulated Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the move. Last Monday, Amit Shah proposed the abrogation of Article 370 and announced the government’s decision to designate Jammu and Kashmir a Union Territory along with Ladakh. The government announced its decision, which was later passed by the Parliament, even as the Valley continues to be under lockdown with no internet and phone connectivity.
Amit Shah arrived in Chennai on Saturday evening to take part in a meeting with Tamil Nadu BJP leaders. Speaking at the launch of a book by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu where Shah was present, Rajinikanth said, “Really my heartfelt congratulations for your Mission Kashmir operations, sir. The way you conducted it, hats off, especially the speech you delivered in Parliament, fantastic sir, fantastic.”
Rajini also referenced the central figures in the Bhagavad Gita. “Now people will come to know who is Amit Shah. Am happy about that. So Amit Shah ji and Modi ji is like Krishna-Arjuna combination. We don’t know who is Krishna, who is Arjuna. They only know who is Krishna, who is Arjuna,” (sic) laughed the actor.
He added, “So I’m wishing, I mean, good luck to you and to country through you. Thanks a lot.”
Rajinikanth’s praise for the Union government comes in the wake of protests in Kashmir and in several parts of the country and the world. The move has been slammed as anti-democratic even as it was carried out without consultation with the people and with mainstream political leaders — including former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah — under house arrest. The AIADMK, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, welcomed the move in Parliament last week while the DMK and its allies have strongly condemned it as occupation and a betrayal of the Kashmiri people.
Source: The News Minute