Representatives of Tamil Nadu Jama’athul Ulama Sabai interact with Rajinikanth on Sunday

CHENNAI: Representatives of Tamil Nadu Jama'atul Ulama Sabai called on actor Rajinikanth at his Poes Garden residence here on Sunday and explained to him the impact that CAA, NRC and NPR will have on Muslims. The meeting took place against the backdrop of Rajinikanth offering to lead a protest if even a single Muslim is affected by the CAA, while maintaining that the Centre is unlikely to withdraw it.

P A Khaja Mohinudeen Baqavi, president of Tamil Nadu Jama'athul Ulama Sabai, said, "Rajinikanth received us in a dignified manner and we had a free-wheeling discussion. The meeting lasted for an hour and 15 minutes. We explained to him the whole issue and he listened to us intently."

"At the end of the meeting, Rajinikanth understood the problem and reason behind our protests and offered all his support to help overcome the fear and facilitate for peace to return," Baqavi said.

"After he spoke to reporters on February 5 stating that some political parties are instigating Muslim clergy to get people to protest, we felt he was not fully aware of the impact of CAA, NRC and NPR will have on Muslims and why so many people, including women, graduates and elders are holding protests against CAA across the country," said Baqavi. "We thought, he should understand the issues behind the move from all angles and wrote a letter to him that we are willing to come in person and explain it, if needed. Rajinikanth, who was in Hyderabad, sent word inviting us to meet him on Sunday, after he returned to the city," he said. The Ulama delegation also presented him with a compilation of quotes of various political leaders, educationists, articles written about CAA, NRC and NPR and even speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both inside and outside Parliament and how the government had repeatedly mentioned about implementing NRC in Parliament, he said.

In his last interaction, Rajinikanth had expressed doubts, whether the Centre would withdraw the CAA, especially after it was cleared by both the houses of Parliament and President of India giving his ascent to it.

