Virtually conceding that his party was whittling down its agitation against Shah Rukh Khan and his latest film "My Name is Khan", Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Friday said "those who want to see the film could do so." "Let cinema theatre owners who love Khan's love for Pakistan show the film.... and let those who like pro-Pak elements (Khan), see the film," Thackeray said in a statement in Mumbai tonight. He claimed the agitation against MNIK was successful, saying "whatever Shiv sainiks had to do, they did".
"The Sena agitation was not against the film 'My Name is Khan' but was against the love for Pakistan which SRK showed and his insulting of India," Thackeray said in an apparent to the actor's favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL competition.
"We stood up against Khan because of patriotism. If patriotism is an offence in this country, Shiv Sainiks will commit the offence again and again," the Sena chief said after a meeting of top Sena leaders at Matoshree, his house in suburban Bandra. Accusing Chief Minister Ashok Chavan of siding with Khan during the ongoing row, Thackeray said "the whole world saw how desperate and hapless the CM has become for one Khan." Thousands of Shiv sainiks were arrested during the agitation, Thackeray said. "They were beaten up till they bled and locked up. Cinema halls did not become housefull despite Congressmen buying tickets but the jails were housefull with Shiv sainiks," he said. PTI
