Rajinikanth expressed regret for the comment later, saying that he did not wish to hurt anyone.
Chennai:
Superstar Rajinikanth has been called in to assist with the 2018 violence investigation at Sterlite’s factory in Tuticorin, officially named Thoothukudi, for a comment that was seen as justifying the use of excessive force by the police against protesters. Thirteen people had been killed when protesters demanding the permanent closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite copper smelting plant clashed with police.
The judicial panel made up of a woman investigating the case has summoned Rajinikanth to ask her about her comment that “antisocial elements” had infiltrated the protest. Retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan had also summoned Rajinikanth earlier, but the actor had requested a waiver of appearance.
Reflecting the line of the ruling AIADMK government of Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth had blamed anti-social elements for the deaths and called on the state government to “crack down” on them.
It had greatly annoyed the locals, who had accused the police of attacking protesters and setting vehicles ablaze to create a situation to open fire.
When asked why he blamed antisocials, Rajinikanth had lost his cool. “Don’t ask me how I know, I know all that,” he had told reporters.
He added that he would not accept anyone who harms uniformed people and dismissed protests against police excesses, saying that people should not resort to protests about everything.
“If people go out and start protesting about everything, then all of Tamil Nadu will become a graveyard,” said the actor, who had announced his intention to join politics shortly before.
As his statement sparked a lot of controversy, the actor expressed his regret. “I’m sorry I hurt someone,” he had said, without explaining or withdrawing the “antisocial” comment.
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