Tamil superstar Rajinikanth

Chennai: A day after suggesting that the Bharatiya Janata Party may be dangerous because the Opposition thinks so, superstar Rajinikanth has clarified that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is actually stronger than the opposition combined. The actor-turned-politician said if 10 opposition parties are ganging up against the BJP, then the person on the other side fighting against them must be stronger.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the politician clarified: “My answer was if the opposition parties are seeing the BJP as a dangerous party, then for them (opposition parties), the BJP is a dangerous party. It is for the people to decide.”

“Who is powerful? If 10 people are ganging up against one? Imagine who is powerful? You can decide,” he added, endorsing PM Modi in the Mahagathbandhan versus NDA battle.

On Monday, Rajinikanth had said while responding to reporters’ questions in Chennai that if most of the opposition parties feel the BJP is dangerous, then it must be so. Also yesterday, the Tamil superstar, who had backed demonetisation when it was announced in November 2016, said that the decision was not implemented properly by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

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Rajinikanth’s remarks on the BJP yesterday were seen as an indication of the superstar moving towards the Opposition camp. The actor is believed to be close to the BJP and has said in the past that his political philosophy is of spiritual politics.

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth also clarified on his remarks on the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case that have gone viral. When asked about the release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi case, Rajinikanth had asked, “Which seven people?”

Today, the superstar clarified that the question asked to him was not right. “I am not a fool to not know about the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. I was one of the first persons to meet Perarivalan when he came out on parole. The matter is with the Governor but on humanitarian grounds, they need to be let out. It has been 27 years.”

Commenting on the Sarkar row, Rajinikanth said: “I condemn it. This is violence and I condemn it. Attacking theatres and tearing banners and stopping the film is wrong. There should be discussion first.”

On the practice of freebies being doled out in Tamil Nadu ahead of elections, Rajinikanth said there was nothing wrong with freebies but the important question is for whom they are meant and when are they supposed to be given. “One should not give freebies for election purposes,” he told reporters.