Did Actor Prakash Raj Say Modi Is Responsible For Gaza War?
A massive protest march and public gathering against Israel’s war on Gaza was held in Chennai on September 19, bringing together political parties, social organisations, and prominent cultural figures from Tamil Nadu.
The demonstration, marked by slogans of solidarity with Palestine, saw the participation of celebrated actors Sathyaraj and Prakash Raj, along with acclaimed filmmaker Vetrimaaran.
Addressing the rally, Prakash Raj did not mince words as he linked Israel’s assault on Gaza to wider global complicity. He held not only Israel and the United States accountable but also pointed at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence, saying it too bears responsibility for the tragedy unfolding in Palestine.
“The injustice happening in Palestine today is not only Israel’s responsibility but also America’s, and Modi’s silence is equally accountable,” he declared to resounding support from the gathering.
The actor framed his words as a moral stand rather than a political one: “If speaking against injustice is called politics, then yes, this is politics, and we will speak.” He reinforced his message with a haunting poem: “Wars will end, leaders will shake hands and leave, but somewhere a mother will wait for her son, a wife for her husband, and children for their father. This is the truth.”
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Drawing an analogy, he added, “When a wound festers on our body and we stay silent, it worsens. Similarly, if a nation is wounded and we remain silent, that silence deepens the nation’s pain.”
Veteran actor Sathyaraj echoed the anguish, calling the bombardment of Gaza “a crime against humanity.” His words were laced with disbelief: “How can bombs be dropped on Gaza? Where is humanity? How do these people sleep peacefully after committing such atrocities?” Sathyaraj demanded international intervention, stressing that the United Nations must act decisively to halt the bloodshed.
Addressing critics who doubt the value of local protests, he said, “In today’s age, social media will carry this message across the world.” For him, participation was also a moral duty of artists: “If our fame doesn’t serve humanity and freedom, what’s the point of being famous?”
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Filmmaker Vetrimaaran, known for his unflinching social narratives, described the situation in Gaza as nothing short of a “planned genocide.” He highlighted the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure: “Bombs are not only falling on homes but also on schools and hospitals. Even olive trees, which sustain livelihoods, are being destroyed.”
