December 15, 2024 02:18 (IST)
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Show will go on: Sudheendra Kulkarni after Sena's ink attack on him
Mumbai, Oct 12 (IBNS): Even after being attacked with ink by Shiv Sena activists, BJP leader Sudheendra Kulkarni, who is the organiser of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book launch in Mumbai, on Monday said the show will go on.
Sena activists on Monday threw ink on BJP leader Sudheendra Kulkarni.
Addressing a press conference with Kasuri about two hours later, Kulkarni had not washed up.
Kulkarni welcomed Kasuri and lauded him for not backing out even after receiving several objections.
Sena is an ally of the BJP in the Maharashtra government.
Reports quoted Kulkarni as saying that there were 8 to 10 activists when he was attacked. "Sainiks attacked me outside my home. Eight to ten Shiv Sena activists came home and right as I was leaving black paint was smeared all over my face. I was abused by them. It was not an attack on me but was an abuse on democracy. It's an assault to Indian culture," he said.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "No anti-India propaganda will be tolerated through any such program, if found so, the organisers will be held responsible."
The incident took place just hours after Kulkarni's inconculsive meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray over the book launch programme. The Sena has threatened to disrupt the event and has written to the director of Worli's Nehru Centre, the launch venue, to cancel the show because of the Pakistan connection.
Later, Shiv Sena justified its act as party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that this was just a soft attack and it will continue such attacks as long as Pakistan is honoured in India.
"This is not ink but the blood of our soldier. The ink attack is just a soft reaction on Kulkarni," he said.
Shiv Sena's act has, however, drew strong criticisms from different political parties.
Senior BJP leader LK Advani said: "I strongly condemn whosoever has done it.... In the last few days, there are these signs...where any person or any point of view is not acceptable, then you resort to violence or turn intolerant towards them."
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted: "Strongly condemn most dastardly attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni by Shiv Sainiks Udhav Thakre must control his goons Full support to Sudheendra."
"Such Intolerance in India can't be tolerated. First Ghulam Ali concert and now Kasuri's book launch. We don't want a Desi Taliban in India. Kasuri Book Launch must be held and all Liberals who are against such Talibani Hooliganism must come out to support the Book Launch," he posted.
Kasuri's book "Neither a Hawk, Nor a Dove: An Insider Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy" is to be launched at Mumbai's Nehru Centre in an event organised by the Observer Research Foundation, a think tank head by Kulkarni, who is a former BJP advisor.
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