Kamal Haasan takes political plunge from A P J Abdul Kalam's home in Rameswaram

RAMESWARAM: Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan began his political journey from the house of former President Abdul Kalam here on Wednesday. 

Kamal, kick-starting his state-wide phased political tour 'Naalai Namadhey' on Wednesday, visited the residence of former President A P J Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram. There, he met and interacted with the family members of India's Missile Man and sought the blessings of Kalam's 101-year-old elder brother Mohammed Muthumeera Lebbai Maraikkayar. 

The veteran actor, after Ramanathapuram district administration denied permission to Kamal to visit the government primary school where Kalam studied, at the eleventh hour,  skipped his scheduled visit to the school where he was supposed to interact with the students as well.

Citing reason, the district administration said that permission was denied owing to objections raised by various Hindu outfits against allowing him to interact with school students in political lines. 

Following this, Kamal had a brief interaction with the fishermen community at a private hall here.

Over 250 fishermen of Rameswaram, Pamban and Thangachi Madam belonging to 13 various fishermen associations, who had been waiting at the hall for about two hours, were left disappointed as the actor arrived a bit late. Kamal, cutting short his visit, left the hall in five minutes, without interacting with the community who awaited his arrival to speak of their long-standing problems and to submit petitions to him in this regard. 

Later on, during the press conference held at a private hotel, Kamal Haasan met the leaders of fishermen community and heard their grievance. 

He, while addressing the fishermen at the hall, sought their participation in the public meeting that is to be held in Madurai on Wednesday evening.