BJP is demon-etising TN film for rapping GST: Rahul

Chennai/ New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit out at the Tamil Nadu BJP for demanding cuts in actor Vijay-starrer "Mersal", which has apparently mocked the GST. The comments come a day after Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan demanded removal of dialogues in the flick which he termed as "untruths" about the GST, rolled out by the BJP- led NDA government on July 1.

"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 Gandhi said in a tweet. Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, including state chief Tamilisai Soundararajan and national secretary H Raja, have strongly opposed references to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the just-released Tamil movie and claimed dialogues in it were "highly inappropriate".

Against the background, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram tweeted, "Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government's policies."

"BJP demands deletion of dialogues in 'Mersal'. Imagine the consequences if 'Parasakthi' was released today," the former Finance Minister said in another tweet. "Parasakthi" was the debut film of yesteryear top star Sivaji Ganesan in 1952 and the dialogues were written by DMK chief M Karunanidhi, who was then a budding leader in the party and a screen writer. The super-hit movie had powerful dialogues espousing reformist and egalitarian ideals. Chidambaram had asked what would happen if the movie were to be released today. Replying to the tweet, Tamil Nadu BJP leader and national secretary H Raja said if that were to happen, people would not allow the government to run temples by quoting a popular dialogue from it.

Chennai: Veteran actor Kamal Haasan on Saturday threw his weight behind the makers of Vijay-starrer 'Mersal', asking those opposing the just-released Tamil movie over references to the GST to "counter criticism with logical response". In a Twitter post, Haasan said: "Mersal was certified. Don't re-censor it."

"Counter criticism with logical response. Don't silence critics. India will shine when it speaks," he said. Haasan had a few years ago threatened to leave India in wake of protests against his film 'Vishwaroopam'.