NEW DELHI: Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked the Modi government over its unofficial demands to take out dialogues from Tamil film ‘Mersal’ which badly criticizes the Centre's Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Digital India initiatives.
"Mr Modi, cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don't try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal," Rahul said in a tweet.
References to the GST in the newly released Tamil film "Mersal" starring popular actor Vijay have not gone down well with the BJP, which has objected to what it termed as "untruths" about the central taxation gods and service tax in the flick and demanded their cutting.
"I have not seen the film. But, people who saw the film were offended by the incorrect statements on GST and digital payments, which are policy decisions taken by the Union government, after lot of study. Celebrities should not be making incorrect statements passing and just like that," state BJP president Tamilisai Soundarrajan said.
At this, the Congress quickly hit out at the BJP party for attempting to suffocate freedom of creative expression. Senior Congress leader
P Chidambaram on Twitter slammed the government for being inept of accepting disapproval.
"BJP demands deletion of dialogues in 'Mersal'. Imagine the consequences if 'Parasakthi' was released today," Ex-finance minister said on Twitter.
‘Hindustani’ fame actor Kamal Haasan came out in support of Mersal and said those opposed to this film must "counter criticism with a logical response."
"Mersal was certified. Don't re-censor it. Counter-criticism with a logical response. Don't silence critics. India will shine when it speaks," the ‘Viswarupam’ fame actor tweeted.
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