Rajinikanth silent on several issues besides Cauvery: Kamal Haasan criticises friend and rival

Makkal Neethi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan, who has been vocal about several issues across the country, criticised his friend and political rival Rajinikanth for staying silent on several issues, including the Cauvery river issue.

"This is not the only issue on which Rajinikanth has not expressed his opinion. But there are several other issues also and it is not right to point at only one issue," he told reporters.

Rajinikanth, who has earlier come under flak from various quarters for not actively taking part in protests organised by the film industry in the past, had recently expressed his disappointment over the Supreme Court verdict reducing the quantum of water to Tamil Nadu from Cauvery River.

He had also urged the state government to file a review petition in the apex court.

Rajinikanth is currently on his annual spiritual journey to the Himalayas. He arrived in Jammu on Sunday and said that he will not engage in any political conversations or interaction during this period.

"I am a spiritual person. From here I will go to Rishikesh. When I will enter the politics, I will answer all the political questions." the mega-star told media at Shivkhori, Jammu.

Rajinikanth will later head to Rishikesh. He was also spotted at Mahavtar Baba Ashram meditation centre in a remote village of Kandabari.

"Spiritualism is all about serving the people. I am entering politics to serve the people. My politics will basically be spiritual politics," Rajinikanth told the media here.

"I have worked for 43 years in the film industry, but basically I am a spiritual being," he added.

The 67-year-old Thalaivar earlier announced the launch of his political party that would contest all 234 constituencies in the next Tamil Nadu assembly elections, due in 2021.

The actor-politician alleged that the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu was deteriorating.

Meanwhile, Haasan was also critical of the way political parties handled farmers. Haasan argued that empowerment of the agriculture sector is extremely crucial, especially in a country like India, as farmers form the ‘vertebra of the nation.’

“I won’t name anyone, but I feel any political party that is neglecting the welfare of farmers is going the wrong route. Farmers form the vertebra of the nation, and hence, their welfare is of utmost importance,” he said.

Earlier today, Haasan, while addressing a presser in Chennai, had criticised the implementation of the demonetisation drive and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and said the former should not have been implemented.