NEW DELHI: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan strongly criticized the central government over the proposed Lok Sabha seat delimitation, questioning the “real motive” behind skipping the census and accusing the Modi-led government of attempting to create a “Hindia.”
“This arbitrary decision follows a familiar pattern,” Haasan said at an all-party meeting on Wednesday. Highlighting the continuous delay in conducting the census, he alleged, “The real intent is to consolidate power in Hindi-speaking states and ensure a decisive electoral advantage.”
He emphasized the need for an inclusive India rather than one dominated by a particular region or language. “Why fix something that isn’t broken? Repeatedly altering a functioning democracy is unnecessary. No matter how constituencies are redrawn, non-Hindi-speaking states will bear the brunt. This move undermines federalism and serves no real purpose,” he stated.
Haasan further stressed the importance of maintaining the current number of parliamentary representatives. “Not just today, not just tomorrow, but always, keeping the number of MPs unchanged is essential for preserving democracy, federalism, and India’s diversity. As an Indian, a Tamilian, and on behalf of Makkal Needhi Maiam, I strongly reaffirm this stance,” he said.
Accusing the central government of overstepping into state affairs, Haasan condemned the selective allocation of extra funds to poll-bound states while neglecting Tamil Nadu’s fair share of resources. He also alleged that the Centre was using financial aid as leverage to impose Hindi under the guise of a “three-language policy,” pressuring state governments into compliance.
Echoing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s opposition to delimitation, Haasan argued that if representation needed to be expanded, it should be at the state level. “All central government decisions are implemented by the states. If they want to increase the number of people’s representatives, let them increase Assembly seats instead,” he asserted.
Speaking to the media, Haasan reiterated that the current parliamentary strength was sufficient. “My opinion is that these 453 seats do not need to change. Even when the population was 145 crore, these 453 members led the country to where it is today. They are enough,” he said.
