Chennai: Actor Kamal Haasan, who is all set to take the political plunge, has “apologised” for taking a stand in favour of demonetisation.
While expressing regret for his earlier stand favouring last year's note ban, Kamal Haasan said he realised the problems associated with the Centre's decision with its implementation.
Writing in the Tamil magazine Vikatan, Haasan said demonetisation caused immense hardship to the general public and did not yield desired results.
The apology came amidst the actor's move to test waters ahead of his expected entry into politics.
The superstar has indicated that he is set to enter politics and even met Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal at his residence recently.
In his piece titled "A big apology", Kamal writes, "I owe it to the people to apologise for supporting the plan in a hurry."
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the ban on high denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on November 8 last year in a nationally televised address to check black money, Haasan was among the first few celebrities who had supported the move.
Haasan had then tweeted: "Salute Mr. Modi. This move has to be celebrated across political party lines. Most importantly by earnest tax payers."
He now writes: "Many of my comrades and some people who understand economics called me and criticised me for my views. Later I consoled myself saying that while the plan was good, there may have been some problems with implementation."
He goes on to write that when more and more economists and experts started speaking against demonetisation, he too was filled with doubts about the move, especially because the government did not give a strong answer to all the criticism.