MNS targets Pak actors in city, cops promise security

Tensions with Pakistan have got the right-wing brigade in Maharashtra worked up again. The Raj Thackerayled Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) set a 48-hour deadline on Friday for Mumbai-based Pakistani artistes to leave the country. MNS and Shiv Sena routinely target cultural figures from Pakistan, but this time the whipping up of xenophobic sentiment comes months ahead of the 2017 statewide civic elections.“We demand that Pakistani artistes who have made Mumbai their home should quit the city and the state of Maharashtra within next 48 hours. If they don't, MNS will beat them up and pack them off to Pakistan,“ said MNS cinema cell head Ameya Khopkar at a press meet on Friday.
Actors like Fawad Khan (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil) and Mahira Khan (Shah Rukh Khan's costar in `Raees') are hijacking opportunities available to Indian artistes, said Shalini Thackeray of MNS, while indicating that the party would target films starring the duo. Both ha ve big-budget starrers due for release next month. Actors Fawad Khan ('Madamji') and Ali Zafar ('Dear Zindagi') too will have to face the MNS' wrath, said Khopkar.
Shalini Thackeray said if they continue to work in the city, “the MNS will stop their shoots mid-way . Moreover, the party activists will see to it that films starring Pakistani artistes are not released in Mumbai and in the state as well.“
The tone of their statements raises the pitch further within days of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray calling for a strike on Pakistan to avenge the attack on the Uri army camp.But Shiv Sena may have been caught a tad off guard by MNS' virulence on the issue --the anti-Islamabad card is usually flogged by Matoshree. To underline the point, Sena MP from south Mumbai Arvind Sawant said his party had for years demanded that artistes from Pakistan not be allowed entry into Bollywood. “These Johnniescome-lately should not lecture us on patriotism,“ Sawant said, in a dig at the MNS. “The Sena has spearheaded countless agitations against Pakistani artistes,“ he added. If regional parties compete to establish their nationalist credentials, the Devendra Fadnavis government is likely to be in a tough spot. Mumbai police has said the actors will be provided security if required. “ All foreign nationals, who are in Mumbai on valid documents provided by Government of India, need not worry . We will pro vide adequate protection as and when required,“ said Deven Bharti, joint commissioner of police, Mumbai.