The Bhartiya Janta Party has been facing flack for objecting to criticisms on GST in just released Tamil film Mersal, with the latest attack coming from Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
In a tweet on Saturday, Gandhi took aim at the Prime Minister, asking him not to 'demon-itise' Tamil pride.
Gandhi's tweet comes a day after veteran actor Kamal Haasan said those opposing the just-released Tamil movie over references to the GST to "counter criticism with logical response".
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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.
The CPI(M) had also described the BJP's criticism an "attack on freedom of expression".
References to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 'Mersal' have not gone down well with the BJP. The party objected to what it termed "untruths" about the central taxation regime in the film and demanded that the references be deleted.
Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan demanded the removal of the "untruths" about the GST, rolled out by the BJP-led NDA government on July 1, while his party colleague H Raja claimed the film exposed Vijay's "anti-Modi hatred".
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"The film producer should remove the untruths regarding the GST from the film," Radhakrishnan had said.
His remarks came a day after the BJP's state unit made a similar demand, charging the filmmakers with making "incorrect references" about the central taxation regime.
Superstar Rajinikanth-starrer 'Kabali' director Pa. Ranjith also came to the defence of the Mersal crew, questioning the BJP's logic of demanding the cuts.
Ranjith said there was no need for removing the scenes on GST as demanded by the BJP.
(With inputs from agencies)
