‘Modi will never succeed in suppressing voice of Tamil people’: Rahul on ‘Jana Nayagan’ row

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the Centre of attempting to stifle Tamil culture by allegedly blocking the release of Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never succeed in “suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.”

Gandhi’s remarks came as he visited poll-bound Tamil Nadu, where the controversy surrounding the Tamil film—starring actor-turned-politician Vijay—has escalated into a major political issue. Addressing the row, the Congress leader alleged that the move to halt the film’s release was not merely a censorship matter but an attack on cultural expression.

“The attempt to block Jana Nayagan is an attack on Tamil culture. Modi will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people,” Gandhi said, targeting the BJP-led Centre.

The controversy took a legal turn after the producer of Jana Nayagan approached the Supreme Court, challenging a January 9 interim order of the Madras High Court. The order had stayed a single-judge directive that asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant clearance to the film.

The issue has triggered sharp political reactions in Tamil Nadu, with opposition parties rallying behind the film’s makers and accusing the Centre of political interference. With assembly elections approaching in the state, the row is increasingly being viewed through a political lens, adding to the already charged campaign atmosphere.

Neither the CBFC nor the Centre has issued a detailed response to the allegations so far.