BENGALURU: Setting off a row with his remark that “Kannada was born out of Tamil” during a film-promotion event in Chennai, actor-politician Kamal Haasan triggered public outrage and sharp political reactions in Karnataka. In reply to Kannada and culture minister Shivaraj Tangadagi’s demand for an immediate apology to the people of Karnataka, Kamal Haasan clarified that his statement was “out of love” and “love will never apologise”.Kamal Haasan’s remark evoked bitter political reactions, state-wide protests and demonstrations. Tangadagi demanded that Kannada actor Shivaraj Kumar, who was present during Kamal’s speech, must condemn Kamal’s words and urged Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to consider enforcing a ban on Kamal Haasan’s film. “He must apologise to the people of Karnataka,” the minister said.‘Kamal Haasan must apologise to people of Karnataka’ Minister Tngadagi said, “Regardless of the personality, we will tolerate none if they try to defame Kannada language, culture, water or boundary. He must apologise to the people of Karnataka. Being a veteran actor, he should not have commented in such a manner. They (Kamal) need Kannada to act and earn and run their propaganda. Should they be allowed to speak like this? Previously, singer Sonu Nigam courted controversy and apologised. There is a need to teach a lesson to all these people.” Kamal’s statement triggered state-wide protests with pro-Kannada outfits staging demonstrations against the actor in Belagavi, Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike faction of Praveen Shetty lodged a complaint against him at RT Nagar police station, alleging he hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas that triggered unrest between Kannadigas and Tamilians. A senior officer said they forwarded the complaint for legal opinion and they will decide further action based on that. Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra said, “Disrespecting another language in the name of their mother tongue is nothing but uncultured behaviour. Having acted in several Indian languages, Kamal’s attempt to glorify Tamil language, especially in the presence of Kannada actor Shivaraj Kumar, reflects his arrogance and foolishness.”Responding to political outbursts, Kamal Haasan, in Thiruvananthapuram, recalled the diversity Tamil Nadu has seen over the years in the form of multiple chief ministers from different linguistic backgrounds, including the late J Jayalalithaa, who hailed from Mandya in Karnataka. Claiming his response as an ‘explanation’ and not an ‘answer’ in a democratic country, Kamal said, “They (protestors) are confusing the issue. Politicians are not qualified to talk about language, including me. Let’s leave all these discussions to historians, archaeologists and language experts. When there was a problem from a TN CM, who hailed from Karnataka, it was Karnataka that gave me support and Kannadigas offered to provide me with a house. So, people will take care of …”Referring to his ‘statement of love’ on language in the presence of Shivaraj Kumar, Kamal said, “We (he and Rajkumar family) are a family and so are the languages. If you look at it from a northern point of view, according to them, it is right. If you look at it from Thenkumari (South), what I said was right. There is also a third angle – the scholars, linguists who say both are right – families and languages that came from the North.“(With inputs from Raksha)