Censoring Udta Punjab won't solve state's drug problem: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The row over film Udta Punjab has escalated further. Now Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has joined the debate over the release of the film. Rahul took a jibe on Punjab Government via his tweet saying “Punjab has a crippling drug problem. Censoring Udta Punjab will not fix it. The government must accept the reality and find solutions.”

Punjab has a crippling drug problem. Censoring #UdtaPunjab will not fix it. The government must accept the reality and find solutions.

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 7, 2016

With 10 days left for its release, Shahid Kapoor-starrer courted controversy after the censor board purportedly raised certain objections regarding references to Punjab following which the film may have to go through some changes. According to sources close to the production houses, the makers of the movie which deals with drug abuse in the state are contemplating making changes in the names of locations following a meeting with Revising Committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Film-maker Karan Johar also extended his support to the 'Udta Punjab' team amid the Censor Board succumbing to political pressure. He said, “Udta Punjab speaks of the reality of our times. Censoring reality amounts to delusion. The fraternity has to stand by what's right!” Film producer Anurag Kashyap also raised his voice against the Censor board by making a reference to the dictator regime of North Korea. Kashyap took to Twitter on Monday night to express his angst. He also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he wrote a series of tweets to censor board for “cutting the wings of the artists” The movie also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh and is produced by Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Films and Ekta Kapoor-led Balaji Films, and is slated to be released on June 17. (with agency inputs)