Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai: Tuesday ended on a worrying note for Mumbai as Uddhav Thackeray returned his security after Chavan’s threat for the same.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan threatened that he would not hesitate in withdrawing state security from Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray for the violence that his were indulging in. In response, Uddhav declared he will return the security to government.
“I don’t need his security. My party’s 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 told Zee News.
On the release of Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘My Name is Khan,’ Uddhav said it seemed the government was bent on releasing the film instead of caring about the farmers of Vidarbha or price rise issue. He refused to comment on the violence, asking us to talk to ‘those who had fanned the controversy by praising Pakistani players.’
State Home Minister RR Patil denied receiving any request for withdrawal of security till late in the evening.
Crackdown & violence
Over 350 Shiv Sena activists, some
of them office-bearers, were today arrested for demonstrating
and damaging cinema screens to protest against Shah Rukh
Khan-starrer 'My Name is Khan', as the saffron outfit vowed to
stall the film's release unless the actor apologised.
Screens of Metro theatre in south Mumbai and Huma
Cinema at Kanjurmarg were cut with sharp instruments by the
Sena workers who entered the halls as regular viewers by
buying tickets, police said.
At suburban Mulund, the glasses of Mehul cinema were
broken in stone pelting by the protesters, who shouted slogans
against Khan and the film, scheduled for release on February
12.
The party's activists gathered outside Fame cinema in
Pantnagar and R-City Mall at Ghatkopar and tore down posters
of the actor and the movie.
"We have arrested 380 Shiv Sena activists. It included
preventive arrests. Many of them were rounded up for
protesting outside the cinema theatres," Additional Police
Commissioner Ritesh Kumar told news agencies.
The Sena renewed its threat not to allow the release
of "My Name..." unless the Bollywood star retracts his
statement favouring inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL-3.
"We will not allow the movie to be released. Shah Rukh
should first apologise to Balasaheb (Thackeray) and then only
we can talk with him," Sena leader Manohar Joshi said.
He said terrorists from Pakistan should be stopped and they would then let their players come to India.
In wake of the Sena intensifying protests against Khan,
leaves of the city policemen have been cancelled to ensure
their full presence.
To further strengthen security, personnel from State
Reserve Police Force and Home Guards will be deployed at the
63 theatres that will screen the film here.
Karan Johar, director and co-producer of 'My Name...'
earlier in the day met Police Commissioner D Sivanandhan to
discuss security issues ahead of the movie's release. Multiplex owners representatives also met CM Chavan in the evening and were assured of safety. Patil said the film will be screened peacefully on Friday.
-PTI inputs
First Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 00:46