New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Satuday attacked the Modi government over its demands to remove dialogues from Tamil film Mersal which criticize the Centre's Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Digital India initiatives.

"Mr Modi, cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don't try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal," Rahul said in a tweet.

References to the GST in the just-released Tamil film "Mersal" starring popular actor Vijay have not gone down well with the BJP, which has objected to what it termed as "untruths" about the central taxation in the flick and demanded their deletion.

"I have not seen the film. But, people who saw the film were offended by the incorrect statements on GST and digital payments, which are policy decisions taken by the Union government, after lot of study. Celebrities should not be making incorrect statements passingly and just like that," state BJP president Tamilisai Soundarrajan said.

At this, the Congress promptly hit out at the saffron party for attempting to throttle freedom of creative expression. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram took to Twitter and slammed the government for being incapable of tolerating criticism.

"BJP demands deletion of dialogues in 'Mersal'. Imagine the consequences if 'Parasakthi' was released today," he tweeted.

Parasakthi was a hit play adapted for the screen by DMK leader M Karunanidhi, which strongly critiqued the prevailing socio-economic order in Nehruvian India during the 1950s.

"Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government's policies," Chidamabaram jibed in another tweet.

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan came out in support of Mersal and said those opposed to the film must "counter criticism with a logical response."

"Mersal was certified. Don't re-censor it. Counter criticism with logical response. Don't silence critics. India will shine when it speaks," the actor said on Twitter.