Kochi: Anti-national seems to be the buzzword for any idea that is contrary to the idea of the governments, actor-politician Kamal Haasan said.
He was delivering the keynote address at the Manorama News Freedom Conclave 2018. He said it was immensely important to understand and imbibe Voltaire's statement that 'I object to what you say but I will go to any end to defend your right to say.'
Stressing on the fact that the dialogue was the bed rock of a healthy democracy, he jocularly said he was not prepared for a speech.
On his shift to politics, Kamal said he thought he could serve the people better than they were being served now.
He said the people mostly required the 'bare minimum' but the underlying fact was that they do not have even that.
He said he was 'a resident of the road' and a citizen of the state of Tamil Nadu.
On a query to why he found a new love to Kerala and its chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kamal said he loved Pinarayi for a variety of reasons. He said he believed in Centrism. Explaining a bit, he said Centrism was not an evasive philosophy but the option to choose the best from all.
Reminded of the difficulties of being a politician and being in public scrutiny always, he said he was always an open book and that was being handed over to the people.
On losing the 'freedom to not answer', Kamal said he was re-crafting and sculpting himself as more questions were being thrown at him.
“We are still looking for a monarch. That is why we shout for Thalaiva in Tamil Nadu. People are still learning democracy. People should not look for kings. They should start looking for leaders,” he said.
He said people entering politics and films should know that only their talent is special. To loud applause from the gathering, he said it would be good if stars knew that the 'chief guest is no more chief when the function ends.'
"Makkal Neethi Mayyam (his political outfit) is getting the traction because I am being truthful to them," he said.
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