Venkaiah Naidu slams Censor Board members for criticising BJP govt

Chennai, Jan 18: In a sharp attack on Censor Board members who quit the film certification body alleging government interference, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday if there was something wrong, they should blame themselves as they were in power. [MSG row getting murkier: Mass resignations follow after miffed Board chief Leela Samson quits]

He also slammed the Congress, saying it was the UPA Government that "politicised" the Central Board of Film Certification.

"They were in power till yesterday and if something was wrong in Censor Board, they should blame themselves," he told reporters at the airport in Chennai.

"This board was politicised by UPA Government and they (board members) cannot blame the present newly formed government", the urban development minister said.

Naidu was responding to questions on the resignation of CBFC Chairperson Leela Samson and 12 other members protesting alleged government interference in the past couple of days amid the controversy surrounding clearance of film "Messenger of God" featuring Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by the film tribunal.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley had on Saturday rejected the charge by the members and said the government maintains an "arm's length distance" in film certification matters.

PTI