‘Violence should not be solution’: Rajinikanth breaks silence on Citizenship Act

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth finally broke his silence on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizenship (NRC) on Thursday. In a late night tweet, Rajinikanth expressed concern over violence in various parts of the country.

Rajinikanth, who was not clear whether he is supporting the CAA and NRC, said that “violence should not be the solution for the problems”.

“Indian citizens should stand united and aware on the nation’s security and welfare. I am deeply saddened as because of the undergoing violence,” the actor and aspiring politician tweeted.

“Violence and rioting should not become a way to find solution for any issue. I request the people of India to stay united and vigilant keeping in mind the nation’s security and welfare, ” he said in a tweet.

“The ongoing violence gives me great pain,” he added.

Rajinikanth had faced immense criticism for failing to make his views of the Act clear. On Monday, when he was asked about his stand on CAA in Mumbai, he refused to respond, claiming that he was at the event to solely talk about his upcoming film Darbar.

Rajinikanth, who made it a point to express his worry about violence allegedly caused by protesters, failed to address police excesses on students in the capital.

The actor’s statement comes on a day when there were time of violence in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka during protests against the amended Citizenship Act, with two persons being killed in Mangaluru in police firing.

In Lucknow, anti-CAA protesters allegedly tossed stones and in the Old City areas of the Uttar Pradesh capital and police used tear-gas shells to control the situation.

A man died of a firearm injury while passing by a demonstration, but police denied the death was linked to police action. Vehicles were also allegedly set on fire.