Pakistani daily rues Shiv Sena’s intolerance

Pervaz Rashid said Pakistan always welcomes the Indian players, poets and actors on its land with open heart.

“This is a reflection of the atmosphere of total intolerance which is being created by the RSS and its likeminded organisations and the Shiv Sena wants to go one step forward”.

“I am happy that the people of Mumbai appreciated our efforts”, Kulkarni said, and thanked those who attended the book launch in large numbers despite the Sena threat to disrupt the event.

MUMBAI: The black-ink attack on think-tank head Sudheendra Kulkarni in Mumbai on Monday was not spontaneous. “Freedom of thought and speech is a fundamental thing”, Kulkarni said.

The Sena said it will not change its stand against Pakistan, however, much it is criticised and maligned. Their plan was to intimidate Kulkarni.

Pakistan’s former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Monday condemned the attack on Observer Research Foundation chief Sudheendra Kulkarni, allegedly by Shiv Sena activists, earlier in the day ostensibly to protest against the launch of a book written by the visiting dignitary. They handed over a letter threatening protest “Sena-style” if the function was not cancelled.Chemburkar wasn’t available for comment. “But whosoever has done it, has besmirched the good name of the country”, the former deputy Prime Minister said. “For decades, the Special Branch (Mumbai police) has been dedicated to gathering intelligence/inputs on any political/religious and other activities in the city, but it has always failed to make a mark, ” said the IPS officer.

Raut’s response came amid reports that Sena workers who blackened Kulkarni’s face yesterday, met party president Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence “Matoshree” in suburban Bandra today.