It Is My Habit To Touch The Feet Of Yogis: Rajinikanth Breaks Silence On The Controversy

Rajinikanth has broken his silence on the controversy around touching the feet of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

He said that it is his habit to touch the feet of yogis or sanyasis even if they are younger to him.

"It is my habit to touch the feet of Yogis or Sanyasis and take their blessings, even if they are younger to me, I have done that only," Rajinikanth said on Monday.

Rajinikanth was criticised by a section of netizens for touching the feet of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.

In the viral clip doing rounds on social media sites, the Tamil superstar is seen touching the feet of Yogi as he arrives at his residence in Lucknow. This gesture has left netizens, his fans and Tamils divided.

It is because Rajinikanth is younger to Yogi. Those who have found no fault in Rajinikanth's gesture say that it is common for Hindus to touch a spiritual leader's feet.

"In Hindu culture, touching someone's feet is a gesture of respect and humility. While it embodies deep values, it might seem misunderstood by others. Let's embrace diverse traditions with open hearts," a user said on Twitter.

However, another section of people are not happy with Rajinikanth's gesture of touching Yogi's feet as he is a politician. Many accused the UP CM of targeting another community through bulldozer action. Hence, they questioned why the Tamil actor touched the controversial Chief Minister's feet.

Nonetheless, this was a major issue in the Tamil media.

On being asked if it was a political visit to Uttar Pradesh, Rajinikanth said, "I went there to meet my friends, it was a wonderful visit."

Earlier in the day, Rajinikanth met with Raja Bhaiyya, the President of the Jansatta Dal and an elected representative. The meeting took place at Singh's residence in Uttar Pradesh.

Raja Bhaiyya welcomed Rajinikanth with warm hospitality and showered him with praise for his contributions to the film industry and his spiritual standing. He also presented Rajinikanth with a gift of holy water from the Ganges and sacred ash from Baba Viswanath.