'Attack On Tamil Culture': Rahul Gandhi Says Centre Blocking Vijay's Jana Nayagan, BJP Hits Back

Last Updated:January 13, 2026, 17:02 IST

Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP-led central government for blocking actor-politician Vijay's Jana Nayagan, terming it an attack on Tamil culture.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (Image: PTI/File)

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of suppressing the voice of the Tamil people. He also slammed the BJP-led central government for blocking actor-politician Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, terming it an attack on Tamil culture.

“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," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

The Congress leader’s response came after the release of the much-awaited TVK chief Vijay starrer multi-lingual film “Jana Nayagan" was postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.

BJP Hits Back

Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy accused the Congress of trying to form an alliance with actor Vijay’s TVK ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu polls.  

Taking to X, he wrote, “The so-called ‘Jannayak’ who got crushed miserably in the Bihar elections, is now desperately trying to latch onto the ‘Jananayagan’ vibe by tweeting in support of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan movie — accusing the Centre of blocking it as an ‘attack on Tamil culture.’ Knowing fully well that defeat is staring him in the face again (in TN 2026), Rahul Gandhi is chasing this lifeline from a film row to signal & begging for a possible alliance with TVK."

“Rahul Gandhi after Bihar wipeout, is this your new strategy — from ‘Jannayak’ flop to ‘Jananayagan’ block?" he added.

Madras HC Directs CBFC To Grant Censor Certificate

Notably, the Madras High Court on Friday directed the CBFC to grant a censor certificate to actor-turned-politician Vijay’s upcoming film ‘Jana Nayagan’, setting aside the board’s directive to refer the matter to a review committee.

The film was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on December 18. The committee that examined the film flagged several issues and recommended several cuts. The movie team made these cuts. On December 22, the committee recommended a U/A certificate, which means the film is suitable for unrestricted public exhibition, subject to parental guidance for children below twelve.

The committee, however, did not issue the certificate, and this delayed the release. On January 5, the CBFC, following a complaint, referred the film to a revising committee.

The ‘Jana Nayagan’ Row

Following the issue of censor certification for actor-politician Vijay’s “Jana Nayagan" a massive political row was triggered in Tamil Nadu with the Congress leaders taking up sides with the top star and blaming the Centre.

Congress leaders Praveen Chakravarty and Lok Sabha MP S Jothimani blamed the Centre for the CBFC allegedly not granting certification to the multi-lingual film ‘Jana Nayagan’ that was originally scheduled for release on January 9.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan has denied the Centre’s role in the certification row.

“Why should we pressure him (Vijay)," Murugan asked when reporters in Coimbatore sought his comments on the Congress accusing the Centre of not providing the censor certificate.

News politics 'Attack On Tamil Culture': Rahul Gandhi Says Centre Blocking Vijay's Jana Nayagan, BJP Hits Back

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