Don't 'demon-etise' Tamil pride by interfering in 'Mersal': Rahul attacks Modi
New Delhi: BJP came under fire on Saturday for demanding cuts to Tamil movie "Mersal", starring popular actor Vijay, claiming it showcased "anti-Modi hatred".
Taking a jibe at the PM, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked Modi not to 'demon-etise' Tamil pride by interfering in the movie.
Mr. Modi, Cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don't try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 21, 2017
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan on Friday threw his weight behind the makers of the movie, asking those opposing the just-released Tamil movie over references to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to "counter criticism with logical response".
Read: Mersal gets Kamal Haasan's support in row over GST
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.
Mersal was certified. Dont re-censor it . Counter criticism with logical response. Dont silence critics. India will shine when it speaks.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) October 20, 2017
A scene in the movie shows a character delivering a fiery monologue in which he attacks the government's failure to provide free public healthcare despite charging a national GST of up to 28 percent.
The scene sparked an uproar among members of the ruling BJP who have called for it to be deleted from the film.
Read: TN BJP fumes over 'untruths' of GST in 'Mersal', wants dialogues deleted
Senior BJP leader H Raja slammed the references to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the movie in his Twitter handle and said it only exposed the lack of knowledge of economics.
Hitting out at the references, state BJP state unit president Tamilisai Sounderrajan had told reporters in Chennai on Thursday that "Incorrect references have been made in 'Mersal' about GST ... celebrities should desist from registering wrong information among people."
Fans of the popular actor should not support such incorrect references, she said and favoured removal of the dialogue referring to the central taxation, rolled out in July.
The BJP's demands for a cut to the film incited anger on social media, where hashtags #Mersal and #MersalvsModi were trending Saturday after many users accused the party of curbing freedom of expression.
The GST, which came into effect on July 1, was designed to replace a web of state and national levies and transform India's $2 trillion economy into a single market for the first time.
But critics have said the tax's complex structure -- four main rates ranging from five to 28 percent -- has confused businesses, hurt sales and pulled the brakes on the growth of Asia's third-largest economy.
"Mersal" released on Wednesday to record earnings and has been running to packed theatres.
