Chennai: Amid a controversy triggered by actor Kamal Haasan’s reported statement that "Kannada is born out of Tamil", Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthiran on Wednesday sought to calm tensions, stressing linguistic unity over division.

Speaking from Madurai, Nagenthiran acknowledged the potential for differing opinions on linguistic history but stated, “Ultimately, all languages are ours.”

Haasan’s remark, made during an event on Tuesday, sparked criticism, particularly from political leaders in Karnataka. BJP Karnataka State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa reacted strongly, demanding an unconditional apology and accusing Haasan of insulting the Kannada language and hurting the pride of 6.5 crore Kannadigas.

Congress MLA from Karnataka Rizwan Arshad also condemned the remark, calling it “unfortunate” and questioning the relevance of such a debate at a time when national unity should be prioritised. Arshad emphasised the ancient heritage of both Kannada and Tamil, warning against divisive language discourse.

In contrast, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan defended Haasan, criticising the BJP for allegedly inflaming the issue. He asserted that Haasan’s comment may have been a reference to historical linguistic links rather than a personal viewpoint, and stressed that a language's true value lies in its current usage and cultural contribution, not merely its origin.

The row highlights the sensitivities surrounding linguistic identity in India, particularly between neighbouring states with rich but distinct language traditions.
(With ANI inputs)