Kaavi, Not ‘Kaala’: In A Sudden Twist, Rajinikanth ‘Endorses’ PM Modi; Says Opposition Appears Scared

A day after his baffling, yet ambitious statement that indicated that he endorsed the Opposition position that the BJP was a “dangerous party”, actor Rajinikanth on Tuesday sought to end speculation about his views and clearly hinted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was more “powerful” than the Opposition.

On Monday, a journalist, pointing to Opposition attempts to forge a united front against the BJP, asked Rajinikanth if the BJP was indeed such a dangerous political entity. The actor responded by saying, “If they think so, then definitely it must be true”.

Addressing mediapersons outside his Poes Garden bungalow in Chennai on Tuesday, the actor-turned-politician sought to clarify the context of his remarks: “The question (put to me) was about Opposition parties considering the BJP as a dangerous party. When Opposition parties think that BJP is a dangerous party, then BJP is a dangerous party for them only, right? Whether BJP is a dangerous party or not will be decided by the people.”

In, perhaps, a subtle but indirect endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “If 10 people join to fight one person (Modi), then who is more powerful...is it those 10 persons or that one person? You decide for yourself.”

Asked whether he considered Modi to be powerful, he said, “I cannot say this more clearly,” and reiterated his point on the analogy of the 10-versus-one.

Asked about his position on the BJP, he said he cannot reveal it now, as he has not come into “full-time politics” as yet.

Rajini also clarified on the issue of the seven Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts case. He came under severe criticism for his perceived ignorance of political issues after he asked ‘what seven people’ on Monday in reply to a question put forth by a reporter. He pointed out that he was the one who had consoled Perarivalan, one of the seven convicts, over phone when he came out on parole some months ago. So, he argued, that he was no fool.

He claimed that he was aware of the nuances of the issue, and said that he supported the release of all seven from prison on humanitarian grounds. However, he said the matter was for the Governor of the state to decide.