Actor-politician Kamal Hassan pitches up for farmers; weighs food over gold, diamond

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan Tuesday strongly batted for supporting the farm sector, saying the food was more precious than gold and diamond. The Makkal Needhi Maiam chief was responding to reporters' queries on mining firm Vedanta Ltd being allotted oil blocks in Tamil Nadu, as there is strong opposition to existing hydrocarbon projects in Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts.

"If there are gold and diamond under the soil beside more precious items, and if agriculture is being taken up overground, there is no need for gold and diamond as they cannot be consumed during the famine," he said. The Centre had recently awarded oil and gas exploration contracts to Vedanta and ONGC, reportedly in blocks of Tamil Nadu. Vedanta Limited has reportedly won contracts for two Cauvery offshore blocks, while state-run ONGC has bagged one in Cuddalore district, under India's maiden open acreage auction.

Tamil Nadu has already witnessed protests by farmers, citizens and political parties against hydrocarbon projects in Kathiramangalam and Neduvasal in Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts, respectively.

Vedanta's subsidiary, Sterlite copper unit in Tuticorin was sealed following protests culminating in police firing in May in which 13 people died. To a question on the #MeToo movement, Haasan reiterated that it was prevalent in all fields, including the media, and stressed that persons accused of sexual harassment by women should give a response to the allegations.