Jana Nayagan: Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Modi of 'suppressing Tamil voice'

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the central government's attempt to stop actor Vijay's film ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people. Rahul's statement comes a day after the producer of the Tamil film ‘Jana Nayagan’ challenged an interim order of the Madras High Court in the Supreme Court.

What did the Madras High Court rule?

The Madras High Court had stayed a single-judge order that directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to clear the film. On January 9, the Madras High Court stayed the single-judge order that had directed the CBFC to immediately issue a censor certificate for 'Jana Nayagan', leaving the future of the film, starring actor-turned-politician Vijay, in limbo.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

"The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's attempt to stop 'Jana Nayagan' is an attack on Tamil culture," Rahul Gandhi said in a statement on social media. 

"Mr. Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people," the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha added. 

What is the stand of the film makers?

KVN Productions LLP appealed against the order of a division bench of the High Court last Friday, which had stayed the single-judge's direction to the board to immediately issue the film's certificate. Vijay launched his political party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), a few months ago, and ‘Jana Nayagan’ is being widely promoted as his last film before his full-fledged entry into politics. The film was scheduled for release on January 9, coinciding with the Pongal festival. However, the film faced last-minute difficulties after the CBFC failed to issue the certificate on time.