Rajinikanth Refuses To Apologise For Controversial Remark On Periyar

Superstar Rajinikanth has refused to apologise for his comments on social reformer EV Ramasamy "Periyar". Rajinikanth said his comments were based on news reports he had read. Multiple police complaints has been filed by Dravidar Viduthulai Kazhagam (DVK) against him for allegedly defaming Periyar.

Rajinikanth, addressing the 50th anniversary event of Tamil magazine ''Thuglak'' on January 14, had said: "In 1971, at Salem, Periyar took out a rally against superstion in which naked images of Lord Ramachandramoorthy and Sita - with a sandalwood garland - were displayed and no news outlet published it." Rajinikanth was praising Cho Ramaswamy, the founder editor of "Thuglak",  for his bravery in publishing the story.

"I will not apologise for the comments on Periyar. I spoke based on news reports I read. They speak on the basis of what they saw. This is an incident to be forgotten, not to be denied," said the 69-year-old actor.

Talking to the media before his residence at Poes Garden on Tuesday morning, Rajinikanth showed clippings from magazines and newspapers to support his claim.

"This report from 1971 says that effigies were paraded without clothes. This is something I have read. I cannot apologise for this. Let me politely inform you all that I cannot apologise, sorry," he said.