CHENNAI: TVK functionary Aadhav Arjuna has alleged that the DMK family threatened actor Rajinikanth when he tried to enter politics. Arjuna said he was not criticising Rajinikanth but added that Vijay had the courage to withstand such pressure.TVK organised protests at district headquarters across Tamil Nadu on Thursday, accusing the state govt of failing to maintain law and order. A protest was held in Chennai, in which TVK functionaries N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna and Arun Raj participated.

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Speaking at the protest, Arjuna said after MGR, Rajinikanth was one of the most popular actors who intended to enter politics. He said Rajinikanth wanted to enter Tamil Nadu politics and change the system. “However, the DMK family issued several threats to Rajinikanth and prevented him from entering politics. See what happened now… At the end, he went on to act in a film produced by Red Giant,” he said.Arjuna added that there was no criticism of Rajinikanth personally. However, he said Vijay had the mental strength to enter politics despite such threats. “Even when personal criticism was directed at Vijay, he did not remain silent at home in fear.”Arjuna’s remarks drew criticism from several quarters, particularly from Rajinikanth’s fans. “Rajinikanth is not someone who fears threats — everyone knows that. At a time when the coronavirus was spreading severely, he stepped away from politics considering the infection risk that gatherings could pose to the public and to avoid loss of lives due to the virus,” said S Ravi, one of his fan club members in Sholingur. “Not everyone who gathers crowds can become a leader,” he added.