Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his ally Kamal Haasan have launched a sharp attack on the BJP, escalating the political rhetoric. Stalin accused a BJP Chief Minister of making a "shameless" statement against Muslims and alleged that "communal forces" are at work. Echoing the criticism, Kamal Haasan warned that "imperial power" is approaching India and said that what he described as a "second Indian freedom struggle" has already begun.