As the stand-off between Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Government continues ahead of Friday's release of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'My Name is Khan', the Sena on Thursday claimed the state government prevented a meeting between party chief Bal Thackeray and the actor.
"Khan had expressed willingness to meet Thackeray after his US trip to resolve the issue. However, the ruling Congress-NCP combine foiled the bid, saying the government was capable of tackling the Shiv Sainiks," Shiv Sena said in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
"SRK has now declared in Abu Dhabi that he would be meeting Thackeray to ensure smooth release of his film in Maharashtra," the newspaper said.
Meanwhile, in an editorial titled 'My Name is Ashok Khan', Saamana flayed Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, saying he was siding with Khan, "a Pakistan lover", to retain his chief ministerial chair.
"Produce a film 'My Name is Kasab' and hand over the nationalist youth opposing it, to Pakistan. Ashok Khan, we are sure you will do it," the editorial said.
The editorial, using written at the instance of Bal Thackeray, says: “ Any astrologer can predict the future reading the birth-chart, but we do not intend to predict Ashok Chavan's future. His future is clear in front of the whole nation. The very Khan for whom he is fighting will be the cause of his decline….On Chavan being made CM, Narayan Rane hollered a lot, but with the mercy of Sonia, Rane was sidelined. Ashok Chavan is trying to keep his chair secure by kowtowing to Pak-lover Khans. Possibly, Ashok Chavan may even get a Pakistan hero award.”
The editorial then comes to the main business: “Shah Rukh Khan has rubbed salt to the wounds of millions of Indians by praising Pak cricketers. This man (Chavan) at the instance of Sonia has come out on the streets to support Rahul Gandhi, who insulted the pride of Maharashtrians and Khan who insulted the pride of Indians. (Chavan) do whatever you can, people are trying to stab Maharashtra in the back.”
On SRK, the editorial further says: “This is the same Shah Rukh Khan who was shown his place for four hours at an American airport disregarding his ‘hero-giri'. He had then said he would never go to the USA in future, but very soon he went there to dance. This is the same Khan who apologized oer a sentence in a song in film Billo Barber because of objections from Muslim outfits. Then he didn't ask what mistake have I done. Today, after praising Pakistan, he is asking what mistake have I made?”
The editorial ends in a bantering manner: “Khan, you haven't made a mistake. It is we who have made a mistake by raising the flag of patriotism, spoke of Maharashtrian pride, It is Maharashtra's mistake that ‘Nizami sons' of Congress have taken birth on the soil of this state. Khan, you are right. The Nizam of Nanded, you are also right, Kasab, you are cent per cent right. It is really a crime to oppose My Name Is Khan. Now produce a film My Name Is Kasab and hand over the patriots who oppose that film to Pakistan”.
