Mangaluru: Communal politics bigger cancer than corruption - Actor Prakash Rai


Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK/SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 14: Well-known actor Prakash Rai (Raj), who has been vocal on various matters on politics and society, on Wednesday March 14 stressed on the need for people to raise their voice and question wrongdoings, and termed communal politics as a bigger 'cancer' than corruption.

Addressing an interactive session with the media during his visit to the on Wednesday, he said, "Media have an important role to play in my life and their support is enormous in even highlighting my political thinking.

'I am not into any political party. I am speaking to raise my voice as a citizen of this country and sometimes my statements have been manipulated. At present the political situation is not right and I am questioning it. I do not have any political background but as a citizen I have the right to question," he said.

"Nowadays, we are not allowed to question. If you question, you are labelled as an affiliate of a political outfit and its ideologies. Every citizen has the right to question and needs to participate in democracy. I do not believe in any party. If a common man as a citizen questions, then he is left isolated. If you notice, 500 protest for unemployment, 200 protest for mid-day meals - even while protesting, there are differences and no one supports each other's problems and shares their pain," he added.

"Any individual who questions today is identified with a party and its ideologies, which we don't need. We need a clean government. I talk against the system and I am not in any political party because I do not need to be in politics. I want to be among the people. I have always stressed upon questioning. If being an actor I face trouble when I question something, then think about the common man. Still, the common man needs to start questioning. This is what should happen.

"I never thought I would need police protection. Some people approach me with criticism or pressurise me. This is how they want to silence you. Every common man should come forward and start questioning the wrongs," he stressed.

He also said that he has no plans to enter electoral politics. "I will not enter electoral politics, as there are a lot of loopholes in the system which disturbs me. When a common man comes and talks to me, it makes me feel empowered and strengthens me.

"I am not in favour of any party but I will talk against a certain party which is danger to our country. BJP's communal thinking has directly attacked me. Some say I am anti-Hindu. Did I ever say it? I feel communal politics is a bigger cancer than corruption," he said.

He also urged voters not to fall prey to the lure or money or caste politics when exercising their franchise.

When asked about the rift between him and Mysuru MP Prathap Simha, Rai said, "I do not have any personal issues with Simha. I feel social media has become a violent platform. My value does not get decided on the basis of what Pratap Simha says. I filed defamation case against him not for money. He failed to apologize for the foul language used by him against me, although I gave him time to do so. But I am worried that when he talks such things on social media, his followers also do the same," he said.

"I have the right to be honest. When I raise a question there is never a proper answer, instead I am asked about getting a plot at HSR layout. When I can donate 6 acres of land to run a school, am I not capable of buying a piece of land?" he said.

About a comment passed by a student against BJP national president Amit Shah at Puttur, the actor said that the student in question was free to express his views.

On reports that he had received threats from some persons from Mangaluru, Prakash Rai said that four persons had approached his car driver to question where he stays. "Besides, they also threatened my car driver," he said, adding that the people disappeared at the sight of police. "I now realize that the atmosphere here is full of tension and apprehension," he said.

To a question on the verdict on the pub attack case, he wondered whether it was right to acquit the accused just because witnesses were not forthcoming. There was a lot of evidence but judge aquitted the accused. Do you think justice has been done? Victims did not complain, but it could be because of lot of reasons, like fear. If you talk in favour of this verdict, you are labelled as BJP man, if you talk against it then you are called Congress supporter. No one treats you as a citizen or a human - you are identified with either of these parties. This verdict is a failure of judiciary and one needs to question the Congress about it. How will people have faith in judiciary?"

On union miniser Ananth Kumar Hegde, he said, "When union minister Ananth Kumar Hegde spoke against the Constitution none of his party leaders disowned him. Instead they supported him. This disturbs me, so how can I accept him as a leader? Some talk against my mother and I will fight against them. When a youth dies, why do you say RSS leader died, why cannot you say a youngster died, why should he be labelled as an activist of a party or outfit?"

"When a Hindu girl is kidnapped by a Muslim boy, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath in his speech says 'if they take one Hindu girl, we will take 10 Muslim girls. Is this the way to talk? How can I believe such leaders? I love saffron colour which signifies Swami Vivekananda, but these are the ones who hide behind the saffron colour and talk about something else in the name of Hindutva," he lashed out.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Thu, Mar 15 2018

    Communalism brings anarchy in the country if allowed.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sandy, Mangalore /Mumbai

    Thu, Mar 15 2018

    First don't communalise , as an actor I respect you in screen but as an individual you are not that clean as we expect. You have different dimensions with party politics , it would better for you to identify as a Congress man rather then saying I am not of any party, if you are not then where is your statement on Nallapad ? you are the person who said "If we have a son then it should be like Nallapad" ..Raikule mullu manganklu ijjer....

    DisAgree [7] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • sathish jm, Kumpala/Dubai

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Don't trust anyone who claims to be neutral to any political ideologies. Their silence towards particular parties says it all !!

    DisAgree [22] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ismail, Moodbidri

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    People use to say, "Party is important than person". The result was more and more criminals became MLAs and MPs.

    After realising this, now some people started to say, "Party is nothing for me, if they give ticket to criminals."

    Hope that Karnataka people reject criminal and corrupt candidates.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • PAM Suvarna, karla

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Let this man contest at least for village punchayat and win, later his his capacity will be come to light instead of this nonsense talk.

    DisAgree [23] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Many BJP leaders are already suffering ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sanjay, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    You mean communal politics of Lingayats and Veerashaiva?

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ivar, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Just by saying I am honest, you don't become one. To question you should shed out of hypocrisy and apply same yardstick on every issues.
    You do not condemn murders of hindu youngsters but cry out loud when a dalit is beaten up for some unknown reasons in North India. When your favorite red party members beat up an adivasi madhu to death, where were you hiding? When your communists butchered a Congress youth in Kanuur why were you mum?
    Your kind of hypocrites will not be able to bring any changes in the country. Start directing or producing in your own forte!

    DisAgree [8] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • santhu biruve, Mumbai/Udupi

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    even after all this efforts this looser will never get ticket from Conggress or SDIP cos..they know this man will never be able to save his deposit.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • bala, urwa

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    We need people who can fight both curruption and communal elements in all religions and anti nationalists.This man plays hide and seek.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan, Mangaluru

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Rightly said.

    To tackle corruption, all that needed sincere and honest people. From investigators, judiciary and to lawyers, pleading the case, if there are people with highest integrity, then evil of corruption will find no space to survive. But, such people are almost extinct species.

    Where communal politics is a perception. A perception that breeds hate, suspicion and anger. All that is needed is a single flare of instigation, that can burn towns and cities in a single blow. When it happens innocence dies.

    Mr. Rai, is doing a great job.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Manju, Kasaragodu

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    He is talking big big things. First of all is he Raj or Rai?..he changed his identity for whatever reasons..i don't know. Did he talk about cauvery issue?...no... Now what is he going to do? May be he wants a ticket to contest in election.. Comon man? Today 9 CRPF soldiers were killed who are our own people. Will Prakash talk on that matter. No he won't. He is a maoist symphathizer (he will know when they will attack his house), rationalist, pro-marxist, pro-rahul baba, etc etc. Prakash if u are fed up of acting then do some "genuine social work" okay. You are a good actor like Kamal.

    DisAgree [57] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna Kumar, Kodi/Bangaluru

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    We agree with you. He is taking up some issue as a citizen. Now you can take up the Jawan issue as well. Its not only him. you too.. Take up the issue that you feel right. You will be supported by like minded. Our petty mindedness is the strength for all vested interests.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ivar, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    He didn't talk when his like minded party workers beaten an Adivasi Madhu to death!!
    He didn't say anything when a young Congress worker was butchered in Kannur by communists!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachin Shetty, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    If you want to change something then join politics and win a election or else you will be speaking like this and people will get bored after sometime.

    DisAgree [26] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sunil Padival, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Soon he may float his own party or join or lead some party. He sounds like someone with leftist ideas. and may cash on his filmi popularity. They have smelt it and waiting for the rite time to announce an opposition for the BJP. With Mr. Bean of India flopping & his Congress party biting the dust every where. These parties are waiting for the right moment to be launched. It may even be after Ktaka elections.

    DisAgree [23] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    It is just the beginning of his aspirations in politics.
    Aage aage dekoh kya hotha hai.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • L n T, Mumbai

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Next well Qualified decent MP candiadate from Manglore Mr. Prakash Rai.

    DisAgree [35] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harish Shetty, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    People are intelligent , They don't need Prakash Rai advise . Let him contest election if he want to serve people .No need talking and creating problems

    DisAgree [86] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincy, BANGKOK

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    This proves how coward you people are. Election ,politics is only answer you have? If you are true Hindu then defend it what he says. You are running away and hiding in the name of politics.

    DisAgree [24] Agree [53] Reply Report Abuse

  • PS, MLORE

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    There are lot issues in all the religion.. If your true human then defend your religion is pure and does not have such issues. Prakash Rai is opportunist and he has no problems with state government that means either he has no sense or he doesn't want to hurt the particular political party.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Harish Shetty,

    ''People are intelligent''

    I disagree. Want proof??? i give you modern India, where corruption is rampant and criminals are voted into office by ''intelligent'' people.

    Oh... also India`s average IQ is at 82. And guess what? No stable democary can exist at that level of average IQ.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    I feel sorry for people who disagreed with me.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • PenMightierThanTheSword!, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Beowulf, Mangalore — no need to feel sorry, such people without a head on their shoulders are a dime a dozen!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Report Abuse

  • U Ameen, Manjeshwaram

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Prakash rai coming to manjeshwaram on March 15
    Welcome to manjeshwaram sir

    DisAgree [26] Agree [53] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mahi, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Already there is a secular govt, then what job he has got ?

    DisAgree [16] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    "Corruption is something to be ashamed of, cancer is not, Do not try to find parallels where none exist. Do not mix cancer with corruption. Ever.", said the Ramon Magsaysay Award winner and cancer specialist in a letter to Mehta, MD of PNB.
    Corruption and communal politics are criminal and illegal activities, then why equate with cancer, since it has nothing to do with morality.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • MN, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Mr. Rai, needs to set his facts right. Communalism and Corruption both are dangerous to society . Now Rai needs to tell the people, how best he has managed with both issues and how he will keep-up the same, in future as he has chose to be a full time politician.

    Equally there is no word in the dictionary "Less Communal" or/and "less corrupt" etc. We expect the public figures to learn to call spade a spade.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • AsA, mangalore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Really liked whatever he said... People need to change their minds.. they should know what is happening around them... here people just try to spread communalism instead of getting united and living a communal free state... mangalore is such a good city but it won't get improved until all these communal minded people think positive... they try to spread hatred and divide people in the name of religion...If a Hindu girl goes with a Muslim guy poeple will have problem with it...Its a girl's choice to go with whoever she wants , why others have to interfere in their life! Here students also don't have freedom to live their life however they want.... #STOPCOMMUNALISM ! #GETUNITED !

    DisAgree [6] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDA GUNDA, MANGALURU

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Thank god someone enlightening the people !! People SHOULD talk about good good things like developments, Infrastructures, how to improve quality of life, quality of education but unfortunately we still stick to the RELIGION which is nothing doing in our struggled daily life. We afraid about the death, that is why we started to create imaginary heaven and hell, no one has knowledge of geographical existence of these places.

    Do not caste your vote on the basis of religion but only based on the quality people regardless the religion or caste, for example J R Lobo.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • sudarshan, ganjimut

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    Mr. Raj, where were you for so many days ? now came out of pit . did you manage to influence CM to give bail to your friend NAALAPAD conveniently forgotten ? Hipocrats / psudos.

    DisAgree [31] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • manan shetty, mlore

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    MR Rai what about Nalapad.........................?

    DisAgree [21] Agree [52] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robin, Byndoor

    Wed, Mar 14 2018

    You have enough opportunity to cleanse it. Try. All the best...

    DisAgree [7] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangaluru: Communal politics bigger cancer than corruption - Actor Prakash Rai



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