Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Congress-Sena face-off over SRK's film


The ruling Congress and the Shiv Sena were on Wednesday on the path of bitter confrontation in the escalating row over the screening of Shah Rukh Khan film My Name is Khan in Maharashtra this Friday, as Sena MPs decided to surrender their security cover.

Sparks flew on Wednesday after Chief Minister Ashok Chavan spoke of removing security cover provided to Uddhav Thackeray if he takes law into his own hands with the Sena executive chief mocking at the Congress-led government saying it was interested only in providing security for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Uddhav said he did not need government security.

"I don't need his security. My party MLAs will also return their security. Let the men guard Kasab as he seems dearer to government instead of those who express their love for the country," Uddhav said. Kasab is the lone surviving Pakistani gunman in the Mumbai terror attack.

After Chavan's threat on Tuesday to Uddhav, Shiv Sena MPs on Wednesday decided to surrender their security cover in protest.

"We have already returned the security cover since this morning," party leader Sanjay Raut, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, said.

He said that letters have been written by party leaders to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari in this regard.

Raising the rhetoric after the crackdown by the state governments in which over 1,200 Shiv Sainiks were arrested following their violent protests against the SRK film, Raut warned: "Wait and see what happens on 12th despite huge security". The film of the responding Bollywood superstar is due to be released on February 12.

In New Delhi, Congress spokesman Abishekh Singhvi sent a strong message to the Shiv Sena saying their protests over the release of the film would be dealt with a "very firm hand".

Chavan had earlier said, "We are not going to tolerate Shiv Sena's bullying tactics". Chavan said the Sena-SRK controversy should be resolved by "mutual understanding."

He said though the law and order is primarily the state government's responsibility, other political parties should also think over it.

On reports that the advance booking for My Name... being closed apparently due to Sena threats, Chavan said police is taking care of security.

"Police are taking care of the security issue to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Condemning the Chief Minister's statement that he would withdraw the Z-plus security cover to Uddhav, Raut alleged that the remarks were "irresponsible" in view of the fact that their leader faced threats from "terrorists and traitors".

The Shiv Sena is protesting against Shah Rukh for not agreeing to its demand to tender an apology for his remarks that Pakistani players should not have been excluded in the third edition of the IPL cricket tournament.

Smarting from its botched attempt at disrupting Congress leader Rahul Gandhis visit to Mumbai last Friday, the Sena has made Shah Rukh the target of a virulent campaign, to the extent of calling him a traitor and asking him to leave for Pakistan.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Uddhav to Rahul Gandhi: Stay out of Mumbai


"Rahul should not interfere in Marathi affairs...Rahul should stop all this or we won't allow him into Mumbai"- more threats from the Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray.

Thackeray's day was spent in twin attacks against Shah Rukh Khan and Rahul Gandhi.Uddhav also lambasted Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan saying Chavan does not fight for his state like other CMs do. The Sena president said, "I am ashamed of Chief Minister Ashok Chavan."

On Wednesday morning, Bal Thackeray said, of Gandhi, "The Prince Has Sprouted Wings." Thackeray Senior has written an editorial in his party's mouthpiece, Saamna, in which he says, "Rahul Gandhi has insulted Maharashtra and its people." Thackeray goes on to say, "We agree with his statement that 'Mumbai belongs to all Indians'. As Shiv Sena chief, I have never said Mumbai is not a part of India. We have never encouraged separatism in Maharashtra or among its people. But we do not need him to tell us that this nation has to stay one and united."
In the last few days, Rahul Gandhi has taken on the Thackerays over their migrant politics for Mumbai. Gandhi said that "Mumbai belongs to all Indians." He also said that during 26/11, many of the commandos who fought to save Mumbai were from North India. Gandhi's remarks were made in Bihar, a state whose residents have repeatedly been targeted by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai.
Uddhav Thackeray has been getting shriller in his keep-outsiders-away-from-Mumbai campaign. The new pitch is attributed to the success his estranged cousin and political rival, Raj Thackeray, has enjoyed in recent elections, mainly as a result of his Marathi Manoos campaign.

Since last month, migrant politics in Mumbai has taken the national centre stage. The debate was triggered by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra who said that taxi drivers in Mumbai would need to prove fluency in Marathi to get their permits renewed. More than half the city's taxi drivers are from North India. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan quickly changed his stand after gigantic public criticism. Gujarati and Hindi-speaking drivers were eligible, he said. The Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray have said the U-turn is not acceptable to them

The Sena has also attacked actor Shah Rukh Khan for stating that it's wrong that not a Single Pakistani player will play in IPL3.