New Delhi, June 9: The Congress today accused Pahlaj Nihalani of insulting the Indian film industry by declaring himself a Narendra Modi " chamcha", stepping up its attack on the chief censor in the Udta Punjab controversy.

"Yes, I am a chamcha (sycophant or acolyte) of Narendra Modi as Anurag Kashyap said," Nihalani, accused of acting under BJP pressure in ordering cuts to the Kashyap co-produced Udta, was reported as saying yesterday. "I am proud to be a Modi chamcha."

Congress spokesperson and actor Raj Babbar today said: "It is unfortunate that Nihalani took pride in declaring that he was a Modi chamcha. You can't use the film industry to do Modi's chamchagiri."

The film, which focuses on poll-bound Punjab's drug problem, is said to have angered the state's ruling Akali Dal, a BJP ally.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh has declared he would release the film's uncut version on June 17, the scheduled release date.

"Majitha town, like Mexico, is the epicentre of the drugs trade in Punjab. It was decided to release the movie there," Amarinder said.

"I have written to the movie's producers urging them to provide copies of the uncensored movie on compact discs so that I can release it simultaneously with its worldwide premiere."