Radical leftist and DMK supporter Prakash Raj has once again found himself in a foot-in-mouth situation for the remarks he made recently.
Speaking to DMK mouthpiece Sun News in an interview with its Editor-in-Chief M. Gunasekaran, he spoke about how he things the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is a ‘Cinema model’
He said, “Vijay has made his entry now. That is a cinema model. I am not saying Vijay should not come. But what I am asking may be a little uncomfortable for his fans. My question is this: you are an actor. How many years of training and effort did it take for you to reach this place? You have influence. You have a huge following among the people. How are you using it? I am asking that question. You cannot say I should not ask it. He is my friend. I am also an actor. They have accepted me as a villain, they have accepted me with affection too. But I have never used that popularity for politics. Never. You may think I am using my popularity too. But what I mean is this: if you dance, maybe you have trained for years. Vijay in his first or second film is different from Vijay the superstar today. That difference is 25 years. For 25 years, you keep learning acting, learning skills, even learning things like horse-riding, and growing. Can you suddenly become Chief Minister just because of that? What confidence can you give me? That is what I am asking. What confidence are you giving me? In this cinema model, over the past ten years, whether it was Thoothukudi or any other issue, when something happened, when a language issue came up, when our state’s rights were affected, did you speak? You say, ‘I am leaving everything and coming.’ To me that sounds like a statement, not a commitment. Why does it feel like that? If Gandhi had said he was leaving everything, I can believe it. Because he did leave everything. He suffered. He was beaten. He stood firm. History still remembers that. So many leaders gave up everything, were beaten, went to jail, stood in opposition, fought, and that is why this country has developed this far. So how can I suddenly believe this? His fans may not understand this, but what I am asking is not out of hatred or opposition toward him. Why would I have any personal anger against Vijay? If he wins an Oscar tomorrow, there will be no one happier than me. That is different. That affection is different. That is not the affection or trust one gives to a political leader. That is affection from entertainment, from a field of leisure.”
He added, “When you are an actor, people spend money, stand in line, put up cut-outs, stay day and night, gather fan clubs, even ignore their parents sometimes, and offer that kind of love. Isn’t that true? So when you use that love, how do you give me confidence? You immediately announcing yourself as the next Chief Minister – isn’t that what is happening? To me, that looks like arrogance. Also, you are my friend, we are from the same field, I too am an actor, and that is all fine. But when it comes to handing over a state, shouldn’t we think for at least two minutes? I may whistle with my fingers in my throat for an actor I like. But how can I hand over a country or a state? Whoever it is, that question must be asked. This is the people’s question. As a citizen, this is my question. I have nothing else here.”
He continued, “You say, ‘I am giving up everything and coming.’ What exactly are you giving up? Should I believe that or is it just a statement? What are you leaving behind? Before coming, what have you done? Suppose suddenly you say, ‘I am a very good man, I have left everything, and now I am going to teach science.’ Won’t people ask whether you have the degree for that? They will ask whether you know mathematics, whether you know science. You cannot fool children like that. You may be a good man. Fine.”
Now comes the remarks which exposes the Dravidianist mindset of Prakash Raj. He said, “But what training have you done for this? Without spending ten years in opposition or in some form of public life, you want power immediately. Then when power comes, who are the people you are going to field in every constituency? What kind of story is this? Isn’t this like the story of the elephant putting a garland? There are princes who become kings or queens by birth. But if you say your driver’s son will become an MLA, or someone else will become one – who is he? Until the previous day, even he himself may not have known he would get a seat. The next moment, he wears a shawl and becomes an MLA? Will he know that constituency? Will he be someone the people trust? Just because your cut-out is there and they see your face, will they vote for anyone you put up? Is that how it works?”
He added, “What I am saying is: the people must feel a responsibility. What is our future? In today’s situation, do you have the qualification to fight for state rights? Have you raised your voice? You can give statements now. But if someone merely says, ‘I am a good man,’ does that make it happen? What I am asking for is consistency. For 25 years he has consistently remained a big actor. But that consistency is in cinema, not in politics. It feels like someone sitting inside a palace and asking an assistant whether it is raining outside. How should that create trust in me? Don’t take this as though I am simply opposing him out of difficulty or dislike. That is not it.”
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