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Pressure from Tamil Nadu politicos: Rajinikanth not coming
View(s):South Indian Superstar Rajinikanth has cancelled his visit to Sri Lanka following agitation by Tamil Nadu politicians who insisted he should not visit Sri Lanka because they believe that “Tamil concerns” are yet to be addressed.
Issuing a statement, the actor said he decided to cancel his trip after requests made by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko. They have urged him not to visit Sri Lanka. “I accepted their request because of their cordial relationship with me,”Mr. Rajinikanth said.
He was scheduled to visit Vavuniya on April 9 to hand over to displaced people 150 houses built by the Gnanam Foundation. He was also to take part in a Jaffna event to raise funds for the Jaffna University’s research unit.
“I am not a politician but an artiste. My job is to entertain people, as leader Thirumavalavan said. I am looking forward to meet the Sri Lankan Tamil people in the future and want to witness the places where the last phases of the war happened. I request that this should not be made a political issue in the future,” the actor said in a statement issued in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu politicians claimed that the Gnanam Foundation, a charity organisation of Lyca Productions, that is currently producing Rajanikanth’s upcoming film also has business ties with the Sri Lankan Government.