In response to Kamal Haasan’s comments on Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, Rajenthra Bhalaji had remarked his “tongue should be cut off.”

Makkal Needhi Maiam and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi on Tuesday demanded the removal of K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji as Minister for Milk and Diary Development for stating that Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan’s tongue should be cut off for making comments on Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, Nathuram Godse.

In a statement, MNM general Secretary A. Arunachalam said that Mr. Rajenthra Bhalaji has violated the oath that he took while assuming office.

“Since he is behaving in a way that violates the oath he took when he assumed charge as an MLA and Minister of Milk and Diary Development, we demand his removal,” he said.

Campaigning on Sunday for his candidate in Aravakurichi assembly bypoll, Mr. Kamal Haasan said, “Independent India’s first extremist was a Hindu. It begins there.” He was referring to Gandhi’s assassin, Nathuram Godse.

He further said, “India should remain equal and harmonious. The tricolour should remain the same and that’s the wish of everygood Indian.”

This comment received severe criticism from BJP, which had petitioned the ECI to bar him from campaigning further.

In response to this, Mr. Rajenthra Bhalaji had said, “Kamal Haasan’s tongue should be cut off. Terrorism has no religion. He must be called just a terrorist. The people are one day going to cut his tongue off for trying to get minority votes by speaking like this.”

Condemning Mr. Bhalaji's statement, VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan welcomed Mr. Kamal Haasan's comments on Godse. “Godse was not only an extremist but also a terrorist. His intention was not only to kill Gandhi but also to instigate violence against Muslims in the country. Hence, more than calling him an extremist, the term terrorist is the apt one. We congratulate Kamal Haasan for speaking the truth,” he said.

Slamming the minister for his statement on Mr. Haasan, Mr. Thirumavalavan said, “everyone has the right to accept or condemn Kamal Haasan’s remarks. If they didn’t feel it was right, they can condemn it or take legal action against him. But Rajenthra Bhalaji has gone against these options and has called for his tongue to be cut. This is similar to the hate speeches of the Sangh Parivar in North India,” he said.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said the Tamil Nadu government should file a case against the minister and arrest him immediately, and sacked as a minister.

The Tamil Nadu Muslim League gave a petition to Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo against Mr. Haasan and sought the disqualification of Makkal Needhi Maiam’s candidates for the bypolls and a ban on the party. “Hindu and Muslims have been living together peacefully in Tamil Nadu. The Election Commission must take action against Mr. Haasan for trying to create communal tensions between the two communities”, V.M.S. Mustafa, president, TNML said in the letter.