‘Mersal’ row: Do not ‘demon-etise’ Tamil pride, says Rahul Gandhi

Tamil actor Vijay’s Diwali release Mersal came under attack from BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu for certain dialogues in the film that take a dig at GST and Digital India.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. File photo

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP’s demand for removal of dialogues critical of GST in Tamil movie Mersal , asking him not to “demon-etise Tamil pride” by such interference.

“Mr. Modi, Cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don’t try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal,” Mr. Gandhi said in a tweet.

Mr. Gandhi’s attack came after Tamil actor Vijay’s Diwali release

Mersal came under attack from BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu, one of whom also sought to give a communal twist by raking up the actor’s religion.

The actor has been panned for his dialogues in the film that takes a dig at GST and Digital India. Vijay, who had met Narendra Modi during electioneering ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, had in fact lauded demonetisation last year.

The BJP’s national secretary, H. Raja, in a tweet on Friday raked up the actor’s Christian origins.

“Joseph Vijay’s hatred for Modi is

Mersal. ”

Mr. Raja said Mersal showed Vijay’s ignorance on economic matters as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was not a new tax and that the tax on liquor was over 58 per cent.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan demanded removal of the dialogues relating to GST, digital payments and temples from the movie as they spread a wrong message.

Earlier on Saturday, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram also attacked the BJP over its demand for removal of dialogues critical of GST in Mersal.

“Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government’s policies,” Mr. Chidambaram tweeted.