The ruling Congress and the Shiv Sena were on Wednesday on the path of bitter confrontation in the escalating row over the screening of Shah Rukh Khan film My Name is Khan in Maharashtra this Friday, as Sena MPs decided to surrender their security cover.
Sparks flew on Wednesday after Chief Minister Ashok Chavan spoke of removing security cover provided to Uddhav Thackeray if he takes law into his own hands with the Sena executive chief mocking at the Congress-led government saying it was interested only in providing security for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Uddhav said he did not need government security.
"I don't need his security. My party MLAs will also return their security. Let the men guard Kasab as he seems dearer to government instead of those who express their love for the country," Uddhav said. Kasab is the lone surviving Pakistani gunman in the Mumbai terror attack.
After Chavan's threat on Tuesday to Uddhav, Shiv Sena MPs on Wednesday decided to surrender their security cover in protest.
"We have already returned the security cover since this morning," party leader Sanjay Raut, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, said.
He said that letters have been written by party leaders to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari in this regard.
Raising the rhetoric after the crackdown by the state governments in which over 1,200 Shiv Sainiks were arrested following their violent protests against the SRK film, Raut warned: "Wait and see what happens on 12th despite huge security". The film of the responding Bollywood superstar is due to be released on February 12.
In New Delhi, Congress spokesman Abishekh Singhvi sent a strong message to the Shiv Sena saying their protests over the release of the film would be dealt with a "very firm hand".
Chavan had earlier said, "We are not going to tolerate Shiv Sena's bullying tactics". Chavan said the Sena-SRK controversy should be resolved by "mutual understanding."
He said though the law and order is primarily the state government's responsibility, other political parties should also think over it.
On reports that the advance booking for My Name... being closed apparently due to Sena threats, Chavan said police is taking care of security.
"Police are taking care of the security issue to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.
Condemning the Chief Minister's statement that he would withdraw the Z-plus security cover to Uddhav, Raut alleged that the remarks were "irresponsible" in view of the fact that their leader faced threats from "terrorists and traitors".
The Shiv Sena is protesting against Shah Rukh for not agreeing to its demand to tender an apology for his remarks that Pakistani players should not have been excluded in the third edition of the IPL cricket tournament.
Smarting from its botched attempt at disrupting Congress leader Rahul Gandhis visit to Mumbai last Friday, the Sena has made Shah Rukh the target of a virulent campaign, to the extent of calling him a traitor and asking him to leave for Pakistan.
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