The Makkal Needhi Maiam Tuesday sought the removal of a Tamil Nadu minister who said party chief Kamal Haasan's tongue should be cut off for commenting that independent India's "first extremist was a Hindu".
MNM general secretary A Arunachalam strongly condemned senior AIADMK leader and Milk and Dairy Development Minister K T Rajenthira Bhalaji's comments, saying it showed that the minister lacked "political ethics and personal dignity" and sought his ouster.
Bhalaji ridiculed the MNM's demand and said his remark was made as an "advice" for the actor, in a bid to inform him of the public anger his comments had led to.
He also promised to withdraw his remarks if Haasan expressed regret for his original statement.
The Congress' state unit hit out at the minister for his remarks, saying it amounted to violence.
Arunachalam said in a statement as the elected representative and a minister, Bhalaji had broken "the promise he made when he took oath as minister. "So he must be removed from his post immediately."
However, Bhalaji hit out at the demand and sought to know what violation of oath he had committed and if he was "speaking ill of a particular faith or promoting another."
The minister said in public meetings in villages, if someone speaks ill of a particular community, those concerned would respond by "throwing stones" or snap the power supply as "that is how they can show their anger."
Haasan had said he was one of those "proud Indians" who desires an India of equality and where the three colours in the Tricolour, an obvious reference to different faiths, "remained intact."
Bhalaji demanded to know if the MNM founder would make similar comments against other faiths, adding Haasan has "joined the likes of DMK chief M K Stalin and DK leader K Veeramani who have made it a habit to tease Hindus and Hindu gods."
He also took a jibe at Stalin's poll-time temple visits in 2016 and said, "we go everywhere-- to mosque, temple and church."
He also backed Haasan's comment, adding he would concur with the actor "not just 100 per cent, but 1000 percent."