After controversy, Kamal Hassan issues clarification on his plebiscite remark

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan has sparked a controversy by apparently asking why the government did not carry out a plebiscite in Kashmir. Soon after that, his party issued a clarification stating his Haasan's comments were twisted by media. "The words mentioned by our Party President in the context of a magazine article published three decades ago about an option that was available at one point in time of history," Hassan’s party Makkal Needhi Maiam said in a statement read.

The party added it stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces, para-military, and central police forces.

While referring to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as 'Azad Kashmir', Haasan had said that if India wanted to prove that it is a 'better country', then it should 'not behave like this'.

Hassan further added that, “Why do the soldiers die? Why should our home's watchman die? If politicians on both sides (in India & in Pakistan) behave properly, no soldier needs to die. The Line of Control will be under control.”

Haasan who was addressing a gathering in Chennai said that he truly regret that when people say army men are going to Kashmir to die.

"The army itself is an old fashioned thing. Like how the world changed, how we decided that humans will not kill each other for food, likewise a time will come to stop fighting. Has the civilisation not learnt this in the past 10 years?" Haasan asked.

"When I was running a magazine called 'Maiyam' I have written about Kashmir issue and what is expected. I mourn this day because I forecasted that this is what will happen, unfortunately, I should have predicted something else. Hold plebiscite and make people talk...why have they not conducted it? What are they scared of? They want to divide the nation that's all. Why don't you ask them again? They won't do it? Now it (Kashmir) belongs to India, the same situation prevails across the border," Times Now quoted Kamal Haasan when asked about the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF convoy in which 40 jawans lost their lives.