A heavy posse of police have been deployed at the residence of Tamil film’s superstar Rajinikanth following threat of physical attacks on him by the Dravidar Kazhakam and associated parties.

Rajinikanth’s residence at Chennai’s Poes Garden has come under a security blanket with armed guards of Tamil Nadu Special Police and plainclothesmen from city police taking positions in vantage points along the approach road to Poes Garden.

The posting of policemen is a fallout of the statement made by the actor on the 50th anniversary of Tamil magazine Tuglaq on last Wednesday when he pointed out that the Dravidar Kazkaham, founded by EV Ramasamy Naicker, had taken out a procession in 1971 holding placards with nude pictures of Lord Rama and Maa Sita which were garlanded with footwears.

This was a rally against the superstition prevailing among the Hindus and Ramasamy Naicker was a known Hindu baiter. Leaders of the Dravida Kazhakam want a public apology from Rajinikanth for airing his views publicly.

But the film actor made it known on Tuesday that he stood by what he said during his speech and there was no question of him tendering any apology. All political leaders, barring those from the BJP, have come together in condemning the superstar.

“Rajinikanth should not air his views publicly without learning and understanding the basics,” said MK Stalin, president, DMK.

The AIADMK expressed displeasure over Rajinikanth’s words for hurting the sentiments of the Dravida cadre.

K Jayakumar, Tamil Nadu Minister for fisheries and the spokesman of the Government demanded public apology from Rajinikanth.

But Tamilaruvi Manian, close confidant of the superstar told The Pioneer on Wednesday that this furore about Rajinikanth’s speech was much ado about nothing. “Rajinikanth did not tell anything about Ramaswamy Naicker. What he told was that activists of DK took out the procession carrying nude pictures of Lord Ram and Sita. What is wrong in saying something which has happened and that too substantiated with documentary evidence,” asked Manian.

Manian also pointed out that the anger and resentment expressed by Dravida Kazhakam activists and leaders of other major political parties is an indication of the fear and apprehension they had over Rajinikanth’s political ambitions. “It is sure that Tamil Nadu will not be the same once Rajinikanth announces his political entry by launching the political outfit,” said Manian.

Narayanan Tirupati, BJP spokesman, said there was no need for Rajinikanth to tender any apology as he has not blamed anybody in his speech during the Tuglaq anniversary. “Rajinikanth exposed the hypocrisy being practiced by the Dravidian political parties under the guise of secularism,” said Narayanan.

Meanwhile political commentators are of the view that the statement by Rajinikanth could lead to realignment of political forces in the State. There were signals from the AIADMK that the party may dump the NDA and forge fresh alliance with parties that respect and recognise Ramasamy Naicker’s brand of politics.