“I have larger goals, longer time frame” and it is not just about facing elections, “I am getting the political party ready” said film star Kamal Haasan formally announcing his decision to enter the political arena.
Addressing the media on his 63rd birthday on tuesday, he said “I have arrived and working on what I plan to do”. It is important that he has made a firm commitment to the people, the actual launch of the party, naming and agenda call for lot more work which is going on in consultation with thought leaders, he said. The foundation has to be prepared strong for an organisation to sustain, he emphasised.
The online platform for interaction with the public are being beta tested and will be ready in January 2018,he said.
The hashtags are more than just apps, they are an online venue to engage with the people, Kamal Haasan said.
‘Thedi theerpom vaa’, meaning ‘let us seek out and solve’, is inspired by a book he had written for his fans involved in social work. Over three decades back he had exhorted them to search out problems and solve them. People may not always come to you with their problems, he said.
‘Maiam whistle’ or ‘whistle centre’ is for whistle blowers to point out problems and wrong doings, he said.
He will also tour Tamil Nadu, the formal plans will be announced in January next year, to gain a fresh perspective as ‘Citizen K’ to understand the issues people face.
“People’s regret and concern that things are going wrong continuously and unstoppably” is perceptible, Kamal Haasan felt. There is a need to initiate a virtuous cycle in Tamil Nadu.
In a candid interaction, clarifying some of his statements that had generated controversy, particularly relating to extreme views among Hindus, he said at no point had he used the word terrorist. His use of the Tamil word for ‘extreme’, ‘theeviram’, had been wrongly translated into ‘terror’. Violence cannot be acceptable in any religion, he said.
Responding to a question, Kamal Haasan said he would not accept wrong doers into the party. “No one with a baggage” will find place. It is also easy to know the source of funds and tainted money will not be accepted as donation for the party, he assured.
Kamal Haasan also said he cannot accept being dubbed an ‘atheist’ that is a term coined by ‘theists’, he said. What I am is a rationalist, he asserted.
While declining to go into the details of the online presence, objectives and policies, he said those are things that he is working on. The announcement puts to rest a debate in recent months on whether he will enter politics. “Now I have announced, and I am working on it,” he said.
To the entertainment industry, he assured that he would fulfil all his business commitments. “I have films to finish,” he said.