Kamal Haasan on saffron in National flag: It shouldn't spread to the entire flag

On Wednesday, Actor and now turned politician Kamal Haasan, launched his political party called 'Makkal Needhi Maiam’, the actor took a dig at the BJP today, writing that though saffron is one of the three colours of the Indian flag. He expressed that, “It shouldn't spread to the entire flag.”


Saffron in the Indian flag stands for sacrifice; it has been largely identified with the right-wing ideology. In a Tamil magazine, Mr. Haasan wrote it would be wrong to say he dishonours saffron as the flag gives space for that sacrifice. He also said it was essential to give space and respect others too.


Yesterday Kamal Haasan gave hints that he does not subscribe to the right-wing ideology. Talking about the prospects of an alliance with superstar Rajinikanth, who has also announced his intentions to join politics, Mr. Haasan said, “It would be unlikely if his colour is saffron.” Asked if his party would subscribe to left or right-wing politics, Mr. Haasan yesterday said, "I'm centre".


Kamal Haasan further said, "Some videos show people taking a vow to remove the word secular in constitution... Can we make such a sacrifice to harvest votes? The reference was to Union minister Anant Kumar Hedge, who landed in a controversy in December after saying his party, the BJP, will soon change the Constitution,which mentions the word secular. The party had quickly distanced itself from his comments, saying it was not an issue for it.”


Kamal Haasan said, “My party was born out of people's anger has also been at loggerheads with the ruling AIADMK, which over the last few months, is seen as drawing closer to the BJP with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's frequent visits to the state. The BJP has been trying to gain a foothold in the state, which is dominated by the two Dravidian parties - the AIADMK and the opposition DMK.” On one of his visits, PM Modi had also met DMK's ailing leader M Karunanidhi.


Kamal Haasan wrote, "I want to change the politics without ethics (that doesn't care about bloodshed and loss of life). The superstar has made it very clear that his party is rooted in the Dravidian ideology, which has people at its heart. The name of the party ‘Makkal Needhi Maiam’, which roughly means People's Justice Centre, also reinforces the idea.