india

Updated: Oct 02, 2019 22:29 IST

A day after the Tamil Nadu government sought permission from the Madras high court to put up banners welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping for the bilateral summit at Mamallapuram, actor-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan on Wednesday opposed the move.

On Twitter, the actor-politician urged the Prime Minister to set an example in putting an end to the banner culture that has become ubiquitous in the state.

“If you act as a pioneer in taking the first step to put an end to this haphazard banner culture, it will reflect your concern towards the sentiments of Thamizhians, and that in itself will garner you the greatest publicity possible,” he tweeted.

Last year, the High Court had banned banners and cut outs across the state.

Haasan has been on a crusade against banners, which have become a part and parcel of not only political events and reception for politicians, but also for film releases and birthdays movie stars and family celebrations like marriages.

Recalling the September 12 death of Subasri, a techie who was crushed under a truck after a huge banner fell on her as she was riding her scooter in South Chennai, the MNM president said the general public has not yet come out of the shock.

The banner was among the many erected by an influential AIADMK functionary for his son’s wedding, attended among others by deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam. The tragedy sparked a huge public outrage leading to the high court taking suo motu notice. Many parties have since issued diktats to cadre not to put up banners, flex boards and cut outs.

After the High Court pulled up the police, the AIADMK functionary S Jayagopal, a former Corporation Counciollor, was arrested from a resort in Krishnagiri district, a fortnight after the death of the 23-year-old techie.