Mersal: BJP demand ‘insulting freedom of expression’


Team Udayavani, Oct 23, 2017, 3:46 PM IST

Chennai: Sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinkaran today joined the chorus in favour of Tamil film ‘Mersal,’ which is facing BJP heat, saying the saffron party’s demand to delete scenes on GST amounted to “insulting freedom of expression.” 

He also questioned the “aggressive” posture of BJP National Secretary H Raja on this matter. Answering reporters’ queries on the controversy surrounding the Vijay-starrer, Dhinakaran mockingly said that the film crew should thank Raja and BJP state President Tamilisai Soundrajan for giving such publicity for the movie. “The censor board has allowed (the film’s release) and they are now objecting (to certain scenes on GST)… this amounts to insulting freedom of expression,” he said. Dhinakaran said the film has only tried to highlight an issue, Goods and Services Tax, “affecting people.” 

“I don’t know why Raja is so aggressive. His tone is intimidating. This is a shameful thing for all politicians, including me,” he said. The BJP leaders could have sorted out the issue with the film producers through talks, Dhinakaran added. Diwali release “Mersal” has kicked up a row with the BJP taking exception to references on GST in the movie. 

BJP leaders, including Raja, Tamilisai Soundarajan and Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan have been demanding that the “incorrect” references be deleted from the big-budget flick. However, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, his senior colleague P Chidambaram, DMK working president M K Stalin, veteran star Kamal Haasan, Tamil Film Producers Council, South Indian Artistes’ Association and a host of Tamil cinema industry representatives had supported the film crew on the issue.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Wayanad LS bypoll: Priyanka in lead by over one lakh votes

Indian-American leaders applaud PM Modi for inclusive growth in India

Doctors remove over 50 toothbrushes from man’s stomach in B’luru

Wayanad LS bypoll: Priyanka in lead by over 55,000 votes after close to 2 hrs of counting

Perth Test: Day 2 Lunch — Bumrah gets five-for as Australia bowled out for 104

Maharashtra assembly polls: Mahayuti leads in 146 seats, MVA ahead in 132

Kaziranga National Park to be centrepiece of 12th edition of ITM in Assam

Related Articles More

Wayanad LS bypoll: Priyanka in lead by over one lakh votes

Indian national arrested in US for illegally supplying aviation goods to Russia

Wayanad LS bypoll: Priyanka in lead by over 55,000 votes after close to 2 hrs of counting

Delhi govt announces Rs 10 lakh compensation to family of drain accident victim

Jharkhand polls: BJP leading in 39, JMM ahead in 38

MUST WATCH

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation

Geethotsava

Naxal Operation


Latest Additions

Wayanad LS bypoll: Priyanka in lead by over one lakh votes

Indian national arrested in US for illegally supplying aviation goods to Russia

Mangaluru: Campco opposes WHO’s claim of arecanut being carcinogenic

Udupi: RSS senior pracharak Bhaiyyaji Joshi visits Sri Krishna Matha

Indian-American leaders applaud PM Modi for inclusive growth in India

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.