Maharashtra Government on Thursday said that all security arrangements are in place and it is the discretion of the theatre owners to release Shah Rukh Khan starrer-'My Name is Khan' on Friday .
"We are firm on our stand about the release of the movie. The theater owners should have faced the situation boldly," Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan told reporters in Mumbai today. On reports that some multiplex owners have decided not to screen the movie, Chavan said no one had approached the government.
"We have not been intimated by any theater owner about not releasing the movie. It may be their decision not to screen the movie," Chavan said. Asked if the decision of not showing the movie was a failure on the government's part, Chavan replied in negative.
"It is not government's failure. We have done our job. However, the Government does not function in isolation and I had asked everyone to join hands to fight forces," he said.
Disagreeing that theater owners' decision could be termed as victory for Sena, Chavan said, "No one is going to score any point. In fact, I have been personally taken lot of flak on the issue." On reports in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' that Shah Rukh was stopped by Congress from meeting Sena chief Bal Thackeray to settle the issue, Chavan said it not true.
"Why would we stop Shah Rukh from meeting someone. It is his personal matter," he said. The Chief Minister also said SRK-Sena row was not a prestige issue for the government and political parties should also think on how long will they stretch the controversy.
Chavan said, "There are some important internal security challenges before the state. But it is very unfortunate that the police force has been diverted to deal with such issues." PTI
