Chennai: Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan has stoked a possible controversy, saying independent India's first 'terrorist was a Hindu,' referring to Nathuram Godse who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.
Addressing an election campaign in the state's Aravakurichi last night, the actor-politician said he was one of those 'proud Indians' who desires an India with equality and where the 'three colours' in the tricolour, an obvious reference to different faiths, 'remained intact'.
"I am not saying this because this is a Muslim-dominated area, but I am saying this before a statue of Gandhi. Independent India's first terrorist was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse. There it (terrorism) starts," he said.
Haasan said he had come here "seeking answers for that murder," referring to Gandhi's assassination in 1948.