At a recent political function, actor Lakshmy Ramakrishnan made certain comments about what a political leader should be like. The actor said that one should not enter politics merely out of their personal desire but should rather do so with full knowledge of people's problems. "If we need a leader to help people at a time of crisis, they should be someone who is trained for it," she said. Since then, many on social media have connected Lakshmy's comments with actor Vijay as she said these at around the same time as the Karur stampede.
Earlier this Sunday, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan clarified her comments. She said that her remarks were not specifically meant for Vijay's political entry or his personal life. "I know Vijay only as a respectful, calm and quiet co-artist, and I have always had deep respect for his mother. That is the extent of my personal knowledge," she explained.
Then, she added that her general comments about politics have been misinterpreted and misused. "A few lines from a recent stage speech of mine were misinterpreted and wrongly linked to his political entry and now to his personal matters. When a daily asked for my quote, I only said that people are capable of separating personal issues from political involvement, and that the matter appears to be getting disproportionate attention in an election season," she wrote.
Lakshmy also added that there are other pressing issues that women face that should be discussed. "If the concern being expressed is truly about women’s rights, there are countless women facing abuse and injustice with no access to legal support, financial security, or even a next meal. They deserve our attention and advocacy just as much. This statement is only to clarify my stand and correct the misinterpretation," she added.
