Thoothukudi
Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Hassan on Sunday said that had people like him entered politics 20 years earlier, the gunfire incident during the anti-Sterlite agitation would not have happened.
While addressing a gathering in support of party candidate for Thoothukudi constituency T.P.S. Pon Kumaran and Vilathikulam Tamil Farmers Association candidate Natarajan who would be contesting on the 'Torchlight' symbol, he shared the stage with the family members of gunfire victims.
“I have not invited them [the family members] to garner votes in their name. This is for us to recall the incident,” he said.
He said that when you think of Thoothukudi, freedom fighters and martyrs should come to our mind. “But, now we think of the police gunfire and oppression by the state,” he said.
“Anger from various issues fuelled the beginning of Makkal Needhi Maiam. In this, the anger created from the Thoothukudi incident also played a part,” he said.
He said that industries should be created at places where pollution would not affect the people.
Mr. Kamal Hassan said that a cancer institute would be set up in Thoothukudi, if his party was elected to power.
“Jallianwala Bagh tragedy was different. Here, the person who shot the people was a Tamil, and the victims were also Tamil,” he said.
The MNM leader said he would make Tamil Nadu the gateway (thalaivaasal) of India. “While Rahul Gandhi is contesting from two constituencies, I am contesting from 40 constituencies,” he said, alluding that all his party's candidates were akin to his own candidature.
A Vanitha, mother of Snowlin, a 17-year-old girl who was killed the gunfire, said that the Prime Minister had not even expressed his grief over the last 11 months. “While voting, people should make their choice wisely,” she said.