Mersal row: Criticising GST, demonetization does not make you anti-national: Senior BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha

Senior BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday spoke out on the Mersal row that has triggered a nationwide storm, given that GST was criticised in a Tamil film.

Some support GST,some don't.Some support Demonetization some don't. This doesn't mean critics are anti-national," he told news agency ANI.

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".

In a scene in Mersal, where Vijay says people in Singapore get free treatment although the country charges only 7 per cent GST, whereas people are charged 28 per cent GST in India, but still don’t get free treatment. In another scene, the movie takes a swipe at the digital India policy.

Meanwhile, actor Vijay’s father and film director SA Chandrasekhar said, “Censor board has members of all parties and it’s reviewed by them. If there is something objectionable they will inform. Once approved by the board no one can criticise the board’s decision.”

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, keeping in line with his new strategy on social media tweeted, "Mr. Modi, Cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don't try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal."