Centre's approach to farmers’ protest is like Nero fiddling while Rome burned, Kamal Haasan says

CHENNAI: Makkal Needhi Maiam (

MNM

) chief Kamal Haasan on Tuesday criticised the Narendra Modi government’s approach to the farmers’ protest in Delhi and compared the Centre’s handling of the stir to Nero fiddling while Rome burned.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should turn around to see what was happening in the country and hold dialogues with the protesting farmers, he said while responding to a question on the Centre's approach to farmers protest in the national capital over the contentious Farm Acts.

When asked his remark on “Rome in fire” (comparing the present situation in Delhi and Modi's visit to Varanasi where he was seen enjoying music), the MNM chief said that he was not keeping track of the PM. “All he has to do is to pan and look at my farmers and have a dialogue. It is a long overdue. It is not a request. He should collude, rubbing out party lines, and think as Indian citizen for the nation’s good,” he said.

The government should not handle the issue in a “reckless” manner. “Any government have its (own) ideology and principles. At this time, the government should keep its ideology aside and come forward for a dialogue with the farmers. It is a voice and not a request. If the voice growers louder, it is not good for the nation,” said Kamal.

On Rajinikanth's entering politics, he said, “My priority is health more than him entering politics.” Kamal said he would seek his “good friend” Rajinikanth's support for his party if the latter did not take a political plunge.

Kamal expressed his displeasure over the handling of the cyclone Nivar by the Edappadi K Palaniswami government and said the people of Semmancheri had been suffering for over five decades but the government had failed to readdress their grievance. He unleashed a scathing attack on the TN government and the wide-spread corruption by dubbing it as an elephant entering a field.

He welcomed former IAS officer Santhosh Babu who joined the party. Babu has been appointed as MNM general secretary (headquarters).

Babu took voluntary retirement as he was unhappy with the government’s handling of the BharatNet project amidst allegations of corruption. “The issue revolving around BharatNet project was a triggering point” for his resignation, said the 1995 IAS batch officer. He admitted that there was a possibility of widespread corruption in the project, but he declined to speak further.

Kamal's upright approach attracted him to the MNM, Babu said. The bureaucracy in Tamil Nadu was good and it could do wonders if an upright leader was at the helm, he added.