Sena’s black protest on Pak ex-minister book backfires
Shiv Sena activists smeared Observer Research Foundation (ORF) chairman Sudheendra Kulkarni’s face with black ink on Monday to protest against the book launch of former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, the latest in a string of attacks on free speech in the country.
Notwithstanding the Sena’s strong opposition and threats to disrupt the function, the book was later released amid heavy police deployment as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP condemned the attack, pointing to a growing rift between the allies.
“We cannot endorse Mr Kasuri but can’t let our state turn into a banana republic,” he told HT. “I think the way the things have happened has brought a bad name to our state.”
Kulkarni, co-organiser of the launch event in Mumbai and a former adviser to senior BJP leader L K Advani when he was deputy prime minister, termed the incident an “attack on democracy” as he addressed the media, his face and hair covered in ink.
He alleged that he was assaulted by Shiv Sena workers who wanted to intimidate him.
Kulkarni said he was dragged out of his car, in which he was travelling along with his daughter, and his face was daubed with black ink by a group of Sena activists close to his King’s Circle residence in central Mumbai.
“Around 9 am, we left our house to reach the ORF office when around 15 people, wearing Shiv Sena paraphernalia and shouting ‘Shiv Sena zindabad’ came and assaulted us. They smeared ink all over my face,” said Kulkarni. “I have no qualms in naming the Shiv Sena as being behind it. This is not just an attack on me but also a symbolic attack on the idea of India.” The Sena soon sought to justify the attack and even praised it. Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray called it a “non-violent” incident while party MP Sanjay Raut called Kulkarni a “Pakistani agent” for inviting Kasuri and said the assault was a very “mild” and “democratic” reaction.
BJP leader LK Advani said it reflected “growing intolerance” in the country that was a cause for concern while the Congress dubbed Shiv Sena the “Desi Taliban”. “I strongly condemn whosoever has done it,” Advani said. “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.”
The Sena had demanded the cancellation of the launch of Kasuri’s book, “Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove: An Insider Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy”, and warned it would disrupt the function if it was not called off, citing Islamabad’s support to terrorism as the reason for its opposition.
“I am very upset by what I’m seeing,” Kasuri said. “I have always believed that protests are fine as long as they are peaceful. But what has happened today is beyond justification. I am very concerned with this.”
The attack came just days after the Sena forced the cancellation of Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai, underscoring the growing intolerance of Hindu hardliners in India and the deepening polarisation between Hindus and Muslims. Actor Naseeruddin Shah, who was a guest during the book launch, rejected the Sena’s charge that Indian artistes were not allowed to visit the neighbouring country. “I went to Pakistan several times but never has a performance been disrupted, disturbed or even threatened,” he said. “I have never had to carry any security. I wish we could have afforded the kind of welcome to Kasuri the kind of love I have always received.” The Sena was snubbed by the citizens as well as the government as the function organised at Nehru Science Centre in Worli was held as scheduled. Almost as a reaction to the party’s diktat, the hall was brimming with over 300 people, while most panelists criticised the Sena.