Rahul Gandhi Targets Modi on Jana Nayagan Delay as BJP Counters, Online Reactions Pour in

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Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has stirred fresh controversy by wading into the ‘Jana Nayagan’ row. The Leader of the Opposition has targeted the centre over the delay in the release of the actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Vijay’s flick.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) was attempting to silence Tamil voices.

“The I&B Ministry’s attempt to block ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people,” his post read.

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BJP Rejects Charge, Calls Remarks ‘Misleading’


The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s claims and accused him of spreading false information for political gain.

BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said the Congress has a history of undermining Tamil traditions.

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“Rahul Gandhi is a shameless habitual liar and peddler of fakery. It was Rahul Gandhi’s Congress led UPA Govt. that insulted the sentiment, culture and pride of Tamil people by demeaningly terming the revered Jallikattu as barbaric,” Kesavan wrote on X.

In his post, he further said that the UPA’s opposition to Jallikattu, an event closely associated with Pongal, resulted in its ban.

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“Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continuous support, the ban on Jallikattu was eventually lifted,” he added.

Kesavan also accused Gandhi of commenting on a matter that is currently before the courts.

“His statement reveals the Congress party’s dangerous and dictatorial emergency mindset which perilously prevails even today, always scheming to suppress and subjugate our independent democratic institutions,” he said.

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Emergency-Era Censorship Raised Again


Invoking the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Kesavan recalled instances of censorship under Congress rule. He cited the banning of Kishore Kumar’s songs from All India Radio and films such as Aandhi and Kissa Kursi Ka.

He also referred to the Tamil flick Kutrapathrikkai, which dealt with the assassination of a former prime minister. The film, completed in 1992 when there was a Congress-led Central Govt, was not allowed to be released for 15 years till 2007.

Social Media Reactions Split

The Wayanad MP’s tweet has drawn mixed reactions from both political parties and netizens.

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Former Governor of Telangana and BJP leader Tamilsai Soundarajan wrote, “ex Cong minister Jairam Ramesh called ‘jallikattu’ a Barbaric practice! Now U talk on Tamil culture?”

One user said the film was a remake of the Telugu movie Bhagavanth Kesari and has ‘nothing to do with Tamil culture’.

Taking a jibe at Gandhi’s post, another user wrote, “Jana Nayagan got support from Jana Nalayak.”

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However, supporters and fan pages of actor-turned politician Vijay welcomed Gandhi’s statement, with several posts thanking him for backing Thalapathy.

Legal Battle over Certification Continues


Leo star Vijay, who recently launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has projected Janan Nayagan as his final film before entering full-time politics.

The movie remains embroiled in a certification dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with the matter now pending before the Supreme Court of India.