After His Plainspeak, Police Strengthen Security Outside Rajinikanth’s House

With a few fringe organisations threatening to stage protests outside Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth’s house, Tamil Nadu police have additional reinforcements outsides his residence in Chennai’s upmarket area Poes Gardens.

The organisations said they would stage protests against the actor’s statement in Thoothukudi after visiting those injured in the 22 May police firing while they were demanding the closure of the UK-based Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper plant.

Rajinikanth said that anti-social elements were responsible for the violence and attack on police personnel on 22 May, the hundredth day of the protests demanding the closure of the copper plant. The actor had also warned that continued protests in Tamil Nadu on the issue or the other would reduce the state to a graveyard.

Various political leaders have criticised Rajinikanth’s statements and these fringe organisations said unless the actor apologised for his comments, they would lay a siege on his residence. Times of India, quoting a police official, said some 70 policemen have been posted near the actor’s residence.

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth has clarified that he never intended to hurt any mediaperson during his interview at Thoothukudi airport on 30 May.

“If anyone has been hurt by my comments, I regret it,” he said, responding to protests by the Madras Union of Journalists, which claimed that the actor’s behaviour and tone at the meet with media were threatening.