BackWon’t align with the tainted, says Kamal Haasan
Haasan said he has joined politics to improve the condition of Tamil Nadu and becoming CM was only a part of it
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New Delhi: Nobody is untouchable as long as they do not tamper with the DNA of Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan said on Friday, keeping all doors open on future alliances with his party Makkal Needhi Maiam.
“They must understand the genetic DNA of Tamil Nadu. The beauty in all the diversity. If my DNA is not going to be tampered with, then nobody is untouchable. They must understand that," Haasan said at the 16th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi.
Haasan said that he had joined politics to improve the condition of Tamil Nadu and becoming the chief minister of the state was only a part of it.
He said his party had come to fight corruption and would stay away from parties that have allegations against them. If voted to power in Tamil Nadu, his first task would be to get the Lokayukta signed, he said.
“Chief minister of Tamil Nadu is only one part of it. I am trying to achieve a Tamil Nadu that deserves its place… My politics is people’s politics. What is our USP? We are new. They assume we could be clean. We promulgate that we will fight corruption. The moment you shake hands with the mafia, that taints me. Certain parties have been tainted. The people who have allegations, we will not align with them," he said.
On comparison with actor Rajinikanth, who last year announced his entry into politics but is yet to launch a political party, Haasan said, “I want them to choose a better Tamil Nadu. Personalities do not matter. It is unfair to compare Mr Rajinikanth and my party. We are just eight months old. It is a gap which is difficult to catch up to." The 63-year old Haasan, who launched his party in February at a rally in Madurai, said that though they are meeting deadlines they would like to do more.
“Our membership drive is going well. Our party structure needs to be very strong. We have great people advising us and our manifesto will be ready. We have adopted eight villages, which we have started redeveloping. We have a whistle-blower app in the party. It is not only whistle-blowing but we have an ear on the ground," he said.
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