Superstar Rajinikanth on Wednesday threw his weight behind the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, asserting that the legislation did not pose any threat to Muslims and backing the National Population Register too as “very essential”.

In his first public reaction to the BJP’s new citizenship matrix, the actor who harbours political ambitions also sought to dispel misgivings about the National Register of Citizens, saying the government was yet to make up its mind on it.

On the CAA, the 69-year-old Rajinikanth wondered how Muslims who chose to stay back in India after Partition would be driven out of the country.

“A scare is being created as if the CAA is a threat to Muslims. How is it a threat to Muslims? The CAA is no threat to Muslims. If they face trouble (due to the law), I will be the first person to raise my voice for them,” Rajinikanth told reporters in Chennai.

Rajinikanth pointed out that the Centre had assured that Indians would face no problems because of the CAA. “The government has said that no citizen will lose citizenship and the law is only about bestowing citizenship on those from our neighbouring countries,” he said.

Asked about the CAA not having any provisions for Sri Lankan Tamils in India, he said the refugees who had been here for about three decades must be given dual citizenship.

Cautioning students against taking part in protests, the actor urged them to think and solicit advice from their professors and elders before participating as political parties might try to “use them”.

Backing the NPR, Rajinikanth said the drive was “very, very essential”.