Sarkar controversy: Let people decide on if they want freebies or not, TN minister says

TRICHY: Tamil Nadu food minister R Kamaraj on Thursday said people who act and make films for commercial gains have no legitimate right to say what people should do and what they should not do. The minister was reacting to a scene in Vijay-starrer “Sarkar” where people are shown burning freebies offered by government.
Speaking to reporters in Tiruvarur, Kamaraj slammed the makers of the movie for showing the welfare schemes introduced by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa in a bad light. “Let people decide on whether they want freebies or not,” he said.

The minister wanted the makers of “Sarkar” to remove the objectionable scenes from the film.

He said the government’s free rice scheme helped prevent hunger deaths in the state while distribution of free cattle to rural households helped in improving their livelihood.

Earlier, Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai said in Karur that filmmakers should exercise caution. “Movies should not hurt public sentiment,” he said.