Protest against Kamal Haasan

A group of 40 volunteers of the May 17 Movement, fighting for the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils, gathered in front of Kamal Haasan's office on Sunday in Alwarpet (Chennai), demanding the actor to step down from the president post (south) of FICCI (Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry) and urging the FICCI to change the venue of upcoming IIFA 2010 (India International Film Academy Awards) from Sri Lanka. They also insisted Kamal to give his Padma Shri back to the central government. The protesters say that FICCI is one of the sponsors of IFFA awards to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka between June 3 and 5. Pro-Tamil groups have opposed the choice of venue, considering the brutalities inflicted by the Lankan government on the Tamils there. Later in the day, Kamal Haasan issued a statement explaining that he shared the sensitivities of the group and pointed out that he had already stated that he wouldn't participate in IIFA 2010. He also mentioned that none of the members in FICCI would either take part in this awards ceremony held in Colombo.

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