Chennai: Veteran actor Kamal Haasan today
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'.
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".
"The film producer should remove the untruths regarding
the GST from the film," Radhakrishnan told reporters in
Nagercoil.
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.
Earlier today, superstar Rajinikanth-starrer 'Kabali'
director Pa. Ranjith 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.
The CPI(M) has described the BJP's criticism an "attack
on freedom of expression".
