February 21, 2017
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Wednesday
formally began his political journey from former President late A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam's residence here and said he is no more a movie star but a lamp in the
homes of people.
"Like the lamp in your homes you should protect me,"
Kamal told a gathering here on his way to Madurai.
Scheduled to unveil
his party's name and flag at a public rally later in the day in Madurai, Kamal
met the former President's elder brother and other family members at his
residence in Rameswaram.
"Greatness can come from simple beginnings," he
said.
"Actually, it will come only from simplicity. Glad to start my
journey from a great man's simple abode," the actor added in a tweet.
However, his second halt at the government school in Mandapam where Kalam
studied got cancelled as the district administration did not give permission.
A leader of a Hindu outfit said they had opposed Kamal's visit to the school
as he was trying to gain political mileage and nothing more.
Later
speaking to the fishing community in Rameswaram, Kamal said that it is one of
the most important industries in Tamil Nadu. He would be back to listen to the
suggestions made by the fisherfolk.
Several flags in white with the Tamil
Nadu map in black, sporting the tag line "Naalai Namadhe" meaning "Tomorrow is
Ours" were seen flying in Rameswaram.
Bharatiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu
unit leader Tamilisai Soundararajan told reporters that Kamal appeared to have
"started a political party to compete against someone", an apparent reference to
superstar Rajinikanth who has also announced plans to launch his political
entry.
She said while anyone can float a political party, Tamil Nadu is
not in a situation where only Kamal can save it. She said after exhausting in
the film field for 50 years, these actors have suddenly turned to politics which
people of Tamil Nadu will not accept.
Soundararajan also said these
actors-turned-politicians are bonsais.
On the other hand, Dalit party
leader Thol. Thirumavalan told reporters that Kamal and Rajinikanth are agents
of the BJP to affect DMK in Tamil Nadu.
Kamal arrived here to a rousing
welcome on the eve of the launch of his political party on Wednesday even as DMK
Working President M.K. Stalin appeared to take a dig at film personalities
taking a plunge into politics saying paper flowers which do not have fragrance
will bloom during a season but they will wither very soon.
Reacting to
that Kamal said he is not a paper flower but a seed. "Plant me and I will grow,"
Kamal said.
AIADMK leader and Minister D. Jayakumar said he agreed with
Stalin that these are paper flowers and "a modified genetic seed that will not
grow".
"The party flag will be hoisted in the evening in Madurai when the
idea behind the flag will be detailed," Kamal told reporters on arrival in
Madurai.
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, actor Seeman, who strongly
opposes Rajinikanth on the basis of his non-Tamil origin, met Kamal at his home
in Chennai.
He told reporters that Kamal had expressed a wish to meet him
but he felt that he should come to his residence because he was elder to him.
Seeman also recalled that he also hailed from Ramanathapuram district.
Kamal called on DMK president M. Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence to
seek his blessings. Stalin was also present then.