MNS CLAIMS CREDIT FOR GOVT’S MULTIPLEX DIKTAT

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has claimed credit for the state government's announcement in the Legislative Assembly that people could take outside food into multiplexes.

"The credit definitely goes to our party for this (the announcement) ... unfortunately, we had to adopt an aggressive stand on the issue. But before doing that, we had submitted memorandums. This (announcement) is a victory of that process (initiated by the party)," MNS spokesperson Anil Shidore has said.

He contended that disallowing film patrons to carry with them homecooked or outside food and impelling them to purchase eatables at "exorbitant" rates inside multiplexes went against the "basic rights" of people. "People should have a choice (from where to buy). You can't say that one doesn't have choice in a democracy," Shidore added.

Earlier, state minister Ravindra Chavan said that the multiplexes and malls have been directed to allow outside food on their premises.

The MNS had recently protested against multiplexes charging exorbitant rates for food items and some of its workers had also allegedly assaulted the staff of a multiplex in Pune on June 29 over this issue. On July 7, several multiplex owners had met MNS chief Raj Thackeray and discussed the objections of the party related to food items being sold in movie theatres.