Coming to the defence of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, who is under threat from the Shiv Sena for his remarks in favour of Pakistani cricket players, the Congress on Thursday said it would see how the saffron outfit stalled the screening of his film in Maharashtra.
"We will see to it how the goons of Bal Thackeray prevent theatres in Maharashtra from screening Shahrukh Khan's film," AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters in Allahabad.
Alleging that the Shiv Sena was frustrated over its rejection by voters in the last assembly polls in Maharashtra, Singh said the Congress will not allow Thackeray's party to vent its furstration in this manner.
Coming down heavily on Bal Thackeray's son and Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav for his statement "warning" Rahul Gandhi against visiting Mumbai, Digvijay said if the Congress General Secretary wished to go to Mumabi no one could stop him. "If Rahul Gandhi wishes to go to Mumbai, then he will go, he will go, he will go, Singh said a day ahead of the young MP's proposed tour of the city.
Describing the father son duo (Bal and Uddhav Thackeray) as well as their estranged kin MNS chief Raj Thackeray as "paper tigers who can grunt but never bite", Singh, said the party would request the Centre to frame stringent laws which could put an effective check on such "subversive elements".
"It is not that the Congress government in Maharashtra is incapable of controlling these people. But under the existing laws, quick action may be difficult. We will request the Centre to bring in some stringent laws".
Filmstar Shah Rukh Khan got a pleasant surprise from BJP on Thursday when the party criticised its long time ally Shiv Sena for its tirade against the matinee idol by calling him a traitor and tearing off posters of his forthcoming movie.
"We do not consider it proper to take recourse to violence as a form of protest," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, referring to the tearing down of posters of Khan's latest film "My Name is Khan" allegedly by Shiv Sainiks in Mumbai.
Prasad said there was no need for Sena activists to indulge in such activities. They were protesting against Khan's statement on the issue of buying Pakistani cricketer players for the IPL matches.
Prasad also criticised the Sena spokesperson for labelling Khan a traitor. "We do not consider it correct to use such terms for Khan. His contribution to Bollywood and as a cultural ambassador is immense," Prasad said.
When asked if this shows the relations between the two allies were strained, Prasad said, "We are friends and have been allies for a long time. But we are also two different political parties and it is well known that we have differences on some issues." Shiv Sena and BJP had sparred on the issue of north Indians working in Maharashtra earlier this week. PTI
