“The makers of Mersal should thank the BJP,” Shatrughan Sinha bats for Vijay & Mersal : Bollywood News

While many other leading lights of the Bharatiya Janata Party have chosen not to comment on the BJP protests against the comments on the GST in the Tamil film Mersal, the intrepid Shatrughan Sinha has spoken up in favour of the film.

“The makers of Mersal should thank the BJP,” Shatrughan Sinha bats for Vijay & Mersal

“Why are we so defensive about a perfectly legitimate issue that has been raised in the Tamil film regarding healthcare and the GST? As entertainers and actors with powerful voices we have a certain duty towards the public to make them aware of socio-political issues. Why is it such a crime if Vijay who is a very powerful Tamil actor, reminds us that the poor in our country desperately need healthcare?”

Shatruji is quick to point out that the protestors against Mersal do not represent the BJP’s official view. “Has anyone heard the Prime Minister or any of the top leaders commenting on the issue? It is only some elements in our party who are eager to prove that they are more loyal than the others. They are the ones jumping in to attack this perfectly harmless and very significant point raised in the film. Instead of attacking Vijay and questioning his credentials we should all take his words seriously and work towards improving healthcare in our country.”

Shatrughan Sinha feels there is no harm in pulling up the Government for mistakes. “And we should gracefully accept that demonetization was a mistake. I was one of the first point it out that it was not right. So many have lost their jobs, all their savings….Likewise perhaps even the GST is not what it was meant to be. If so, let’s admit out mistake, let’s roll back…Let’s not be ashamed to say we are sorry. Instead of attacking actors and artistes for drawing attention to anomalies in the workings of our democracy, we should applaud them. Valid criticism must be equally welcome from Amar, Akbar and Anthony.”

Tongue firmly in cheek, the BJP’s most outspoken soldier feels Marsel has got an irrational amount of publicity. “Thanks to all the noise that was made over a few dialogues in the film by my overzealous party members, the film has attracted much more attention that it would have otherwise. The makers of Marsel must be thankful to the BJP.”