Speaking in favor of people of Indian occupied Kashmir, Indian actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has asked Indian government why they’re afraid of holding referendum in Kashmir, which has caused a massive uproar among Indians.

Haasan, who is the father of Shruti Haasan, has come under fire for saying calling Pakistan’s Kashmir ‘azad’, while speaking about February 14's Pulwama attack on soldiers in Indian occupied Kashmir. His statements have sparked an angry backlash on Twitter, where Indian fans are posting hate comments against him. He said that if India wants to prove that it is a ‘better country’, then it should not behave like this.

“In Azad Kashmir, they are using Jihadi's pictures in trains to portray them as heroes that’s also a foolish thing to do. India also behaves with an equal amount of foolishness, it's not fair. If we want to prove that India is a far better country, then we should not behave like this. There begins the politics, there begins the new political culture," he further said.

Addressing a public gathering in Chennai, Haasan further said, “When I was running a magazine called 'Maiyam' I have written about Kashmir issue and what is expected. I mourn this day because I forecasted that this is what will happen, unfortunately, I should have predicted something else. Hold plebiscite and make people talk...why have they not conducted it? What are they scared of? They want to divide the nation that's all. Why don't you ask them again? They won't do it? Now it (Kashmir) belongs to India, the same situation prevails across the border,” Indian media reported.