Addressing reporters, Prakash claimed that Gandhi’s approach to opposition politics weakens national unity and social harmony. “Rahul Gandhi’s politics is not based on development or governance but on dividing society. His narrative changes depending on the state he is in,” the BJP leader said. According to Prakash, Gandhi raises caste-based issues in Bihar while adopting identity-driven politics centred on Tamil culture in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP’s remarks come amid a growing political controversy over actor Vijay’s upcoming film Jana Nayakan, whose certification process has reportedly been halted. On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi criticised the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting over the issue, alleging that the move amounted to an attack on Tamil culture and an attempt to silence regional voices.
In a post on X, Gandhi said the alleged stoppage of certification was “an attack on Tamil culture” and accused the Narendra Modi-led government of trying to suppress the voice of the Tamil people. “You will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people,” he wrote, directly addressing the Prime Minister.
Responding to the criticism, Guru Prakash rejected the Congress leader’s allegations and said they were part of a deliberate attempt to politicise administrative processes. He asserted that the Modi government has consistently respected and promoted Tamil language, culture and heritage over the past 11 years. “Tamil is not just a regional language; it is a classical language with global significance, and the Prime Minister has repeatedly acknowledged this,” Prakash said.
He pointed to initiatives such as the promotion of Tamil culture at international forums including the United Nations and G20 events, as well as references to regional languages and traditions in programmes like Mann Ki Baat. These efforts, he said, reflected the government’s commitment to the idea of “One India, Great India.”
The BJP spokesperson also argued that cultural pride should not be conflated with political confrontation. “Respecting diversity does not mean encouraging divisive politics. India’s strength lies in unity, not in pitting one region against another,” he added.
The controversy over Jana Nayakan has added a cultural dimension to the ongoing political sparring between the BJP and the Congress, with both sides sharpening their rhetoric ahead of key political battles. As of now, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has not issued a detailed public statement clarifying the status of the film’s certification.
