CHENNAI: In a sharp attack on Censor Board members who quit the film certification body alleging government interference, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today if there was something wrong, they should blame themselves as they were in power.
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 here.
"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 yesterday rejected the charge by the members and said the government maintains an "arm's length distance" in film certification matters.
Replying to a question on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe's remarks on offering more autonomy to Tamils in the island nation, Naidu said it was a 'serious' statement and the NDA Government had taken note of it.
"It is a very serious statement and we have taken note of it. We have age old relationship with Sri Lanka and we want to continue our relationship", he said.
After the victory of Maithripala Sirisena in the recent Presidential polls, Wickramasinghe indicated that the new Sri Lankan government would offer more autonomy to Tamils.
To a query on comments by Maneka Gandhi that the bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' was a 'western concept', Naidu said, "I do not know anything about that subject.
I do not want to make any comment on that issue."
"Moreover, it is not a national issue where a Central Minister has to comment on that."
Local people will decide what to do and what not to do on the matter, he said.