Shiv Sena likens Kulkarni to Kasab, slams Fadnavis
MUMBAI: Unfazed by all-round criticism for blackening Sudheendra Kulkarni’s face for his refusal to cancel Pakistan’s former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book launch, Shiv Sena on Tuesday likened the ORF chief to 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab.
The Sena, a junior partner in the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre, also locked horns with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for criticising it, saying he had “failed to understand Maharashtra” and that his condemnation of the incident brought the state “a bad name”.
Continuing with its shrill antiPakistan stance, a day after the paint attack on Kulkarni triggered outrage, Shiv Sena said India faced greater threat from people like the Observer Research Foundation chairman than extremists and terrorists.
“The real threat to the sovereignty of our nation is not due to extremists or terrorists, but people like Kulkarni. People like him are out to cut the neck of our nation.. When there are people like him present here, Pakistan does not need to send people like Kasab for terrorist activities,” the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece
“An atmosphere has been created where it now seems that Khurshid Kasuri is a messenger of peace or a Mahatma and the Sena has committed a crime by opposing him. However much we are criticised and maligned, we will not change our stand against Pakistan,” it said.
Six Shiv Sena activists who had been arrested on Monday for blackening Kulkarni’s face, on Tuesday met party chief Uddhav Thackeray at ‘Matoshree’, his Bandra residence.
Meanwhile, ORF chairman Sudheendra Kulkarni on Tuesday described himself as an “agent of peace” and not a “Pakistani agent” as labelled by Shiv Sena for hosting former Pakistan minister Khur- shid Mahmud Kasuri and asked the saffron party to respect other people’s freedom of expression.
Freedom of expression
“I have been labelled a Pakistani agent in Sena mouthpiece
I respect their freedom of expression. They should also respect others’ freedom of expression,” Kulkarni said at a press conference here.
The Observer and Research Foundation (ORF) had organised Kasuri’s book launch event at Nehru Centre in Worli, Central Mumbai, which took place as scheduled on Monday evening amidst tight security.
“When it is said I am a Pakistani agent, I say yes, I am an agent but an agent of peace and will continue to be one,”he said.
Asked about the arrest of six persons who allegedly smeared his face black on Monday for organising Kasuri’s book launch here, he said, “I am not concerned about their arrest and bail.I have faith in our judiciary.”
“Ours is a democracy. Freedom of thought and speech is a fundamental thing,” Kulkarni said.
“ORF is a non-political organisation. I don’t want to comment on Sena-BJP ties,” he said.
To a question on the performance of Prime Minister Nar- endra Modi, Kulkarni, who has served as speech writer for BJP veterans Atal Behari Vajpayee and L. K. Advani, said “From the day he assumed office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun efforts to usher in a new beginning in south Asia.”
Dialogue
Both the sides (India and Pakistan) want the dialogue to go ahead, Kulkarni said.
“I am happy that the people of Mumbai appreciated our efforts,” Kulkarni said, and thanked those who attended the book launch in large numbers despite the Sena threat to disrupt the event.