'Apologising Doesn’t Make One Smaller': Yediyurappa Slams Kamal Haasan Amid Kannada Remark Row

BJP leader Yediyurappa slammed Kamal Haasan for saying Kannada originated from Tamil, demanding an apology. Haasan refused, while 'Thug Life' producers sought court protection after KFCC threats.

File Photo of veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa

Source : PTI

Bengaluru, Jun 3 (PTI) Slamming actor Kamal Haasan for "speaking insensitively" about the Kannada language, veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that he must respectfully apologise to Kannada and Kannadigas.

The former Chief Minister said, apologising does not make anyone smaller, nor does arrogance make anyone greater.

Actor-politician Haasan's recent statement claiming that "Kannada was born out of Tamil" during a promotional event for his upcoming film 'Thug Life' has sparked widespread outrage among pro-Kannada groups and cultural organisations.

Taking to 'X', Yediyurappa said, 'Kannada is truth, Kannada is eternal' is not just the rallying cry of Kannadigas, "but it is also the pledge of Kannadigas towards mother Bhuvaneshwari, the deity of Kannada".

"Many senior linguistic experts have demonstrated that Kannada did not originate from any specific language. It is deeply regrettable and condemnable that artist Kamal Haasan, who is neither a historian nor a linguistic expert, has spoken insensitively about the Kannada language," he added.

"His behavior, which unnecessarily disrupts peace, harmony, and unity, is not right. In the fervor of expressing his opinion, he has hurt the sentiments of crores of Kannadigas, and he must respectfully apologise to Kannada and Kannadigas. Apologising does not make anyone smaller, nor does arrogance make anyone greater!" he said.

Haasan had recently declined to apologise and said he believed in law and justice and his love for Karnataka was true.

Raajkamal Films International, Chennai, the producers of Kamal Haasan-starrer movie 'Thug Life,' on Monday filed a petition before the Karnataka high court, requesting protection to ensure the smooth release of film 'Thug Life' in the state.

The move comes in response to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce's (KFCC) recent announcement that it would not permit the screening of the film in Karnataka unless Haasan issues a public apology for his comment suggesting that 'Kannada evolved from Tamil'.

The film, scheduled to hit theatres on June 5. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)