‘Srikrishna panel is Cong conspiracy’

Ever since Nitin Gadkari took over as the Bharatiya Janata Party national president, there appears to be some shift in the party’s stand towards Telangana issue.

In an interview to a Telugu television channel, Gadkari expressed dissatisfaction over the way the Telangana issue was being handled by the UPA government. “The appointment of Justice Srikrishna Committee is nothing but a conspiracy by the Congress to buy time. It completely failed to tackle the issue. We don’t acknowledge the committee at all,” he said.

Apparently, Gadkari doesn’t like Justice Srikrishna who pulled up the Sangh Parivar, particularly Shiv Sena, for the 1992 Mumbai riots. So, he does not want to favour any recommendation made by Srikrishna panel. Now, the BJP is linking the Telangana issue to Vidarbha, saying both the demands should be resolved simultaneously.

Now Sena wants ‘Bombay’ removed from BNHS signboard

Suspected Shiv Sena activists vandalised the 126-year-old Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), demanding the word ‘Bombay’ be replaced by ‘Mumbai’ in its name.

Armed with bamboo sticks, around 40 activists marched into the premises and vandalised the society’s signboard by taking off the ‘B’ from ‘Bombay’ in the name last night, police said.

The building of BNHS, a body engaged in nature conservation research, is located opposite Maharashtra Police headquarters in south Mumbai.

They also put banners in Marathi with ‘Mumbai Natural History Society’ as its changed name.

No one has been arrested, police said, adding the society has not launched any complaint so far.

Sachin is already a ‘Bharat Ratna’, says Thackeray

After brickbats, it is now bouquets for cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar from Shiv Sena.

Sachin’s double-hundred against South Africa in Gwalior has not only silenced his critics, but clean bowled the Shiv Sena, which had taken on the iconic batsman over his “Mumbai for all” remark.

“Hundred crore people of this country have already crowned Sachin as Bharat Ratna,” Sena chief Bal Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana.

“Shivaji Maharaj used to vanquish Moghuls on battlefield. Similarly, Sachin is a warrior on cricket battlefield. Such warriors are born only in Maharashtra,” Mr. Thackeray said.

“Shivaji wielded the sword. Similarly, Sachin wields the bat,” the editorial said.

“Sachin does not need anyone’s recommendation to be awarded Bharat Ratna. He is already one,” it said.

The Shiv Sena leadership had last year questioned Tendulkar’s loyalty to Maharashtra following his Mumbai for all remark.

Mumbai theatres under security blanket

Heavy security arrangements have been made at city cinema theatres ahead of Friday’s release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name Is Khan which is facing the Shiv Sena’s ire.

Over 1,600 Sena activists, including functionaries, have been arrested in the last two days to thwart protests by the Sena, who has been demanding that Mr. Khan apologise for his remarks favouring Pakistani players in IPL-3.

“Elaborate security measures have been adopted to ensure no untoward incident happens (before and after the release of the movie). Nobody would be spared for taking law into their hands,” said Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil.

The theatre owners have been asked to install night vision cameras that would enable police to identify troublemakers in case of any untoward incident. They have also been advised to keep the first three rows vacant and deploy at least two security guards inside the hall so that incidents such as ripping off screens with sharp instruments by troublemakers can be averted.

Notices warning Sena party leaders not to create law and order problems have been issued by the police. Police Commissioner D. Sivanandan has issued guidelines to all the police stations regarding security arrangements.

Constables stationed at halls have been told to frisk ticket-holders and check their bags. However, it is not must for cine-goers to show identity cards.

Each single-screen cinema hall will be manned by a sub-inspector, three constables, two of them women, and five plainclothes policemen. In the wake of the Sena intensifying protests, leaves of the policemen have been cancelled to ensure their full presence.

To further strengthen the security, personnel from State Reserve Police Force and Home Guards will be deployed at the theatres across the metropolis.

Meanwhile, Mr. Khan, along with co-actor Kajol and the film’s director Karan Johar, left for Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to attend a special premiere of the movie.

On Tuesday, Mr. Johar, who is also co-producer of the film, met Mr. Sivanandhan to discuss security issues ahead of the movie’s release.

MNIK protest: Over 1000 Shiv Sainiks detained

 

A Shiv Sena party activist vandalises a poster of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s new film “My Name is Khan” in Mumbai on Tuesday

In a crackdown against Shiv Sena, over 1000 of its activists have been detained ahead of the release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘My Name is Khan’ after the party stepped up its protest against the film over the actor’s remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL.

“In the last 24 hours, a total of 1,023 Sainiks have been arrested. While 955 were picked up under the preventive action, the rest were put behind bars for different cases, including for protesting outside the theatre, vandalising screens among others,” police said.

Tight security has been provided to 63 theatres across the city where the movie is scheduled to be released on February 12, they said.

Guidelines have also been issued to all police stations by the city police chief regarding security arrangements.

The Sena has renewed its threat not to allow the release of “My Name…” unless the Bollywood star retracts his statement favouring inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL—3.

“We will not allow the movie to be released. Shah Rukh should first apologise to Balasaheb (Thackeray) and then only we can talk with him,” Sena leader Manohar Joshi said yesterday.

In wake of the Sena intensifying protests against Khan, leaves of the city policemen have been cancelled to ensure their full presence.

To further strengthen security, personnel from State Reserve Police Force and Home Guards will be deployed at the 63 theatres that will screen the film here.

Karan Johar, director and co-producer of the film, on Tuesday met Police Commissioner D. Sivanandhan to discuss security issues ahead of the movie’s release.

Police assure security for ‘My Name is Khan’

Filmmaker Karan Johar has been assured by Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Sivanandan that his upcoming film ‘My Name is Khan’ will have “full protection” ahead of its release on February 12.

The Shah Rukh Khan starrer faces threat from Shiv Sena after the party took objection to actor’s comments supporting the inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL.

“We came here with the exhibitors to get a personal assurance from the police. Everything is on board and we will be releasing the film on February 12. Advances opened yesterday and continue to open today,” the 37-year-old filmmaker told reporters after a meeting with Mr. Sivanandan.

Johar met the police chief along with film’s distributor, FOX Searchlight and multiplex owners.

“We have an assurance from Sivanandan saheb that we will have full protection at all places and locations. There is no issue and it’s all fine. Advances open, our film is releasing, it’s all good,” he added.

Johar, who has co-produced the film with Khan, refused to comment when asked whether he had a meeting with Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

“We would just like to talk about the release of the film,” Johar said.

Sena dubs Shah Rukh a traitor

Stepping up its vitriolic attack on Shah Rukh Khan, the Shiv Sena on Saturday branded the actor as a “traitor” for his comments on Pakistani cricketers’ participation in IPL but in a U-turn said it will not oppose the screening of his new film ‘My Name is Khan’. “Let Shah Rukh release the film with the blessings of the Italian woman (Sonia Gandhi) and Yuvraj (Rahul Gandhi) without any protection and let it run in any theatre anywhere in the country. Sena will not oppose it,” The Sena chief, Mr Bal Thackeray, said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’. The Sena had earlier threatened to stall the release of the film in the metropolis where posters of the movie were pulled down and theatre owners warned against its screening. “A Khan

named Shah Rukh tells us to love Pakistan but nobody feels suffocated due to his treachery,” he said. “Traitors, do whatever you want to do with the blessings of Congress. Sena won’t stop you. Why should the heads of Shiv Sainiks bleed and they be jailed without any reason,” the editorial said. “We banned Pakistani cricketers despite the fact that we are cricket lovers. The ban is because of Pakistan’s support to terror acts in India, including 26/11 Mumbai attacks,” Mr Thackeray said. Shah Rukh who supports

Pakistan gets protection, the editorial added. Unfazed by the Sena threat, the actor stuck to his stand that Pakistani players should have been included in the upcoming IPL and that “Mumbai is for all Indians”.

Rahul Gandhi to visit Mumbai despite Uddhav’s warning

Despite Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray’s warning, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Mumbai on Friday. The Congress party has confirmed Gandhi’s trip to Mumbai, which includes stops at two colleges that was scheduled before Thackeray threatened him to stay out of Mumbai’s affairs.

However, the sources in the Congress government said the party is nervous about security arrangements taking into account the Shiv Sena activists targeting Gandhi. Thackeray on Wednesday said, “Rahul should not interfere in Marathi affairs. Rahul should stop all this or we won’t allow him into Mumbai.” Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had also hit back at Rahul Gandhi’s ‘’Mumbai for all Indians’’ comment by saying Mumbai may belong to all Indians, but how can it belong to an Italian mummy.

In a statement in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’, Thackeray said, “Mumbai was not a guesthouse of the country that anyone comes to Mumbai and leaves.” Mumbai belongs to Maharashtra and Marathi people, Thackeray said, and added, “If anyone is going to murder this truth, he will have to face weapons of Maharashtra.”
Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticized both the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for their unwarranted attacks on north Indians, and said that every inch of India belongs to each and every Indian.

Cong slams Shiv Sena for dividing country, comment against Rahul

New Delhi: The Congress today condemned the attempt by Shiv Sena to poliarise the country on ”chauvinistic lines and regional identities” and said that whatever constititutional measures required to be taken will be taken at an appropriate time against Sena’s mouthpiece Samna for derogatory comments against AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.

”We condemn the attempt to polarise the country on regional lines,” Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natrajan told media persons here.

Asked whether the Congress would consider banning Shiv Sena and its mouthpiece ‘Samna’ for its Chief Balasaheb Thackeray’s derogatory comments against Mr Gandhi terming his as the ‘Prince of Congress” who ‘has lost mental balance,’the Congress spokesperson said that ”Whatever constitutional steps are required would be taken at an appropriate time”.

About the personal attacks on the Nehru-Gandhi family in ‘Samna’ stating the ”prince of the Congress is a frustrated bachelor and that Mumbai may belong to all Indians but how can it belong to his Italian mommy?,”

Ms Natrajan said that the derogatory remarks indicated the frustration of the Shiv Sena and the Congress would not dignify the statement by commenting on it.

Regarding Mr Thackeray’s charge that ”The Congress that divided the country should not speak about the nation’s unity.

The country’s division was the biggest sin of the party,” Ms Natrajan said the Congress has worked tirelessly for the unity and integrity of the country and is totally committed to the idea of India.

She said, ”We will strain every nerve to ensure that the unity and integrity of the country is not compromised.”

SRK should go to Karachi to play with Pak players: Sena

Shiv Sena on Friday attacked Shah Rukh Khan for lamenting exclusion of Pakistani players from IPL and dared him to take the players in his team Kolkata Knight Riders.

“If Shah Rukh wants Pakistani players to play here, he should go to Karachi and Islamabad to play with them…If he includes Pakistani players in his team, he should be aware of the consequences,” Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told reporters here.

Reacting to the non-selection of Pakistani players in the IPL auction, Bollywood star and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders Shah Rukh Khan had recently said that they (Pakistani players) should have been welcomed.

“I truly believe they (Pakistan players) should have been chosen,” Khan had said.

“We would have loved to have Pakistani players if they were made available legally,” he had said.

Meanwhile, protesting the actor’s comment, Sena activists tore posters of SRK’s upcoming movie ‘My Name Is Khan’ at Eternity Mall premises in neighbouring Thane. The activists handed over a letter to the owner of the mall asking to stop release of the movie.

Chavan Defends, Thackeray ‘Shuts up’ Sachin for Mumbai Remarks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following criticism of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar by Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for his “Mumbai for all” remarks, Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan has come in strong defence of the cricketers, saying that he had spoken from his heart and that his statement will unite the country.

Taking exception to Thackeray’s criticism of Tendulkar in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, Chavan said, “the master blaster has spoken from the bottom of his heart.”

“Sachin’s statement has been made in true sportsman spirit. Though, he is a Maharashtrian, he plays for the country. This (Tendulkar’s remark) will unite the entire country,” Chavan said.

“I fully agree with him (Sachin). People will not support Shiv Sena’s political game,” he said.

The chief minster appreciated the master blaster saying that the entire country was proud of his achievement of completing 20 years in international cricket.

“Sachin has done India proud,” he said.

“I do not attach any importance to what some people have said about Tendulkar,” the Chief Minister said without naming the Shiv Sena chief.

However, Sanjay Raut, Sena’s spokesman, said that his party chief had not criticized Tendulkar for his “Mumbai for all Indians” remarks.

“The remark made in today’s issue of Saamana is not criticism of Sachin. Balasaheb commented in his capacity as an elder… it was an elderly advice to Sachin,” Raut said.

It should be noted that the mouthpiece quoted the Shiv Sena chief as saying, “There was no need for you to take a cheeky single by making these remarks. By doing so, you have got a run-out from the ‘pitch’ of Marathi pschye.”

Thackeray also expressed displeasure that Sachin had “left the crease” and moved to the pitch of politics by making these remarks which had hurt the Marathi mind.