TAMIL NADU

Rajini clears air on BJP's support for his yet-to-be launched party, his visit to Himalayas

rajinikanth [File] Rajnikanth

Actor-turning-politician Rajinikanth, who had espoused a new line of 'spiritual politics', denied the BJP’s support for his yet-to-be launched political party.

“This question has been put to me several times. The BJP is not behind me. Only God, and after God, people are behind me,” he categorically said in Chennai.

Rajinikanth came back after a brief spiritual sojourn to Himalayas, where he visited a Shiva temple and met some of the spiritual leaders. He had left for Himalayas from Chennai on March 11, and initially it was a 15-day trip, according to sources.

The superstar, however, cut down on the number of days, due to various reasons, and came back to Chennai on Tuesday evening.

Talking to the media waiting outside his Poes Garden residence in Chennai, Rajinikanth answered several questions posed to him. Replying to a particular question on his spiritual trip and the BJP’s support for him, he denied it saying, “God is with me.”

Talking about the Ram Rajya Rath Yatra that has entered in the state and the protests against it, he said, “Communal forces, in any form, should not be encouraged. This is a secular state and the government should provide security to it and prevent any communal flare up.”

On a question on Cauvery Management Board, he said the state government has failed exert sufficient pressure on the Centre to set up the board.

Stating that office bearers for eight more districts for his Rajini Mandram are yet to be filled, he denied reports on an important political announcement that is likely in the near future. “I deny that there will be any announcement about my political party on April 14.”

Rajini’s Himalaya trip, sources say, has rejuvenated him and there might be a leap forward in his political path, apart from the new movie he has signed for Sun pictures. Apparently, during every trip to Himalayas, he used to visit the caves in Dunagiri in Uttarkhand to meditate. Rajinikanth’s Himalaya trip is always to meditate at the foothills of Himalayas, where an ancient yogi, Mahavatar Babaji, who is said to have an eternal body, lived. He would also spend time with the saints there and take their blessings.

It may be recalled that every trip that he made to Himalayas had coincided with important decisions and events in his life. It was during the massive success of Robot that he went to Himalayas and sought the blessings of his Guru Mahavatar Babaji. Recently, four of his friends had constructed a meditation centre in the foothills, commemorating 100 years of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS). This non-profit religious organisation was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1917. The new ashram, constructed by Rajinikanth’s friends, who met each other near the caves on the foothills of Himalayas in 2002, is called Guru Sharan.

“It is more than eight years since I went to Himalayas. So I thought I should go. There is no other intention for being there,” he clarified. However, Rajinikanth’s trip this time is looked in the backdrop of his decision to take the political plunge and go forward. Rajinikanth, during his trip, said he is “not a full time neta yet,” and not to talk about politics.