After targeting Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan for his remarks supporting the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL, the Shiv Sena dragged in Aamir Khan, calling the duo "2 Idiots".
"In real life, Aamir and Shah Rukh have been proved as '2 Idiots' as both are making stupid statements supporting the cause of Pakistani cricketers," said a statement in the party's Hindi mouthpiece Dopahar Ka Saamna.
"On the one hand, while SRK is openly displaying his love for Pakistani players, Aamir has even put nationalistic sentiments in his utterances on this issue," said the statement in the tabloid, which hit the stands this afternoon.
"According to Aamir, if any cricketer is good, he would like to have him in his team, it makes no difference to him which country he belongs to," said the statement.
The statement is accompanied by a digitally altered picture of the recent record blockbuster 3 Idiots. It shows the head of Aamir (the star and promoter of the movie) popping out of a drum and SRK sticking his tongue from another drum - signifying the accompanying heading of "2 Idiots".
Aamir had said on Friday that if he were to select IPL players he would do so only on the basis of their performance and not nationality.
The Shiv Sena on Friday hit out at Shah Rukh, who is also the Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner, after he said he would have picked a Pakistani player for IPL matches if his team had a slot.
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said if the actor was so keen on them, "he could go play his matches in Lahore, not in India".
Thane Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde announced that no film of Shah Rukh would be screened in the district.Both actors have not reacted to the Shiv Sena's tirade.
Security has been increased outside Shah Rukh Khan's residence in Mumbai after Shiv Sena activists intensified their protests against the actor for his remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL, police said.
Adequate number of policemen have been deployed at actor's bungalow 'Mannat' in suburban Bandra after receiving information that Sena activists would hold protest against the actor outside his residence, they added.
"We have an information that a protest would be held by some activists of a political party outside the residence of Shah Rukh Khan. We have deployed our men to avert any untoward incident during the protest," said Joint Police Commissioner (Law & Order) Himanshu Roy. "Those violating the law will be dealt with very strict action," he said.
Sena's senior lead Manohar Joshi said, "Shah Rukh should not interfere in the politics.This is the reason why we are protesting against the actor."
The actor had not asked for any security at his residence, Additional Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta said, adding that police had assessed that there could be protests by Sena activists following which adequate measures were taken.
On Friday, alleged Shiv Sena activists went on the rampage tearing down posters of Shah Rukh's upcoming film 'My Name is Khan' in neighbouring Thane district over his remarks in favour of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL.
Intensifying its protest against Shah Rukh Khan for speaking in favour of Pakistani cricket players, Shiv Sena activists on Sunday held a demonstration at the actor's residence Mannat in suburban Bandra.
"Shah Rukh should go to Pakistan if he wants to speak in favour of Pakistani players," Shiv Sena leader and MLC Anil Parab, who led the protest, said. Sainiks displayed a travel ticket from Mumbai to Pakistan and demanded ban on the actor's upcoming movie 'My Name is Khan'.
Supporting the protest of Sena activists, senior party leader Manohar Joshi said, "this is the issue of patriotism and Shah Rukh should not interfere in politics." "Shah Rukh has been staying in Mumbai for years but he never spoken anything for Marathi," Joshi said.
Last week, Sena had slammed Shah Rukh for lamenting exclusion of Pakistani players from IPL and dared him to take the players in his team. "If Shah Rukh wants Pakistani players to play here, he should go to Karachi and Islamabad to play with them," Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut had told reporters.
Lamenting the snub that the Pakistani players received in the IPL auction, co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, Shah Rukh had recently said they should have been welcomed. "We would have loved to have Pakistani players if they were made available legally," Shah Rukh had said. PTI
