By TCN Staff Reporter
Thiruvanathapuram: Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal has hit headlines with the much emotional blog post titled “Why should we live if India dies”. The blog, which has come in the wake of JNU incidents, has points ranging from martyrs to ‘unwanted arguments over patriotism’.
“People of India are unnecessarily arguing over patriotism at the cost of the freedom and security offered by the soldiers of the Indian army,” the post says.
“We portray anti-nationals as the champions of creative freedom in India. We need fireplace or whisky to overcome the cold during nights. We vehemently indulge in debates thereafter. After that we again crawl into our quilts. Even in that hour of the night, there will be many Hanumanthappas and Sudheeshs guarding our border from infiltrators. They will not lose their presence of mind even in adverse and extreme climatic situations,” it reads.
Mohanlal, who holds an honorary Lieutenant Colonel rank in Territorial Army, asks parents to educate their children about the rich culture of the nation in order to prevent them from anti national slogans.
However, Mohanlal’s arguments have drawn wrath of political leaders as well as the eminent persons from film industry.
“Anti-nationals must be punished. No doubt. But mixing up of patriotism with freedom of expression arises some suspicions. Similar doubts came to my mind when I read the blog written by respected Mohoanlal,” Malayalam film director Vinayan said through his Facebook post.
“When students who raised slogans against the government were branded as anti-nationals and put behind bars, the proof of political exploitation of incident under garb of sedition charges was exposed. The JNU incident should not be mixed with patriotism,” the post said.
The director went on to say that Mohanlal’s argument will only aid the leaders, who try a hand with divisive politics.
Meanwhile, left leaning writers and intellectuals allocated substantial time on social media platform to criticise the actor. CPI(M) MP MB Rajesh asked Mohanlal to read the last letter of Rohith Vemula, the Dalit student who recently committed suicide on University of Hyderabad campus.
“The attempt to raise questions against the Sangh politics made Rohit Vemula and Kanhayya anti nationals,” Rajesh said.
Rajesh also asked Mohanlal why he kept silent when Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali was denied opportunity to hold concerts in the country.