Mumbai: Taking the side of Vijay’s film "Mersal", actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan has stood in support of the film that has come into limelight due to the protest of BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu to boycott the movie over references to the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Haasan said those opposed to the film must "counter criticism with a logical response".
"‘Mersal' was certified. Don't re-censor it. Counter criticism with logical response. Don't silence critics. India will shine when it speaks," Haasan tweeted on Friday.
Vijay has been panned for his dialogues in the film that takes a dig at GST and digital India. The actor, who had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during electioneering ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, had even lauded demonetisation last year.
Earlier, BJP's National Secretary H. Raja on Twitter raked up Vijay's Christian origins.
"Joseph Vijay's hatred for Modi is 'Mersal'," Raja posted on Friday.
Referring to the actor's dialogue in the movie, Raja tweeted that in the last 20 years, 17,500 churches, 9,700 mosques and 370 temples were built. Out of these what should be avoided to build hospitals, Raja posted.
Raja even said "Mersal" shows Vijay's ignorance in economic matters as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not a new tax and the tax on liquor is over 58 per cent.
Besides him, Tamil Nadu BJP President Tamilisai Soundararajan demanded removal of the dialogues relating to GST, digital payments and temples from the movie as they spread a wrong message.
She also wondered whether Vijay had asked his fans to distribute milk to poor children instead of pouring it on his cutouts erected outside the theatres.
Meanwhile, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP's demand for removal of dialogues critical of the GST in Tamil movie "Mersal", asking him not to "demon-etise Tamil pride" by such interference.