Channel has apologised, says Shiv Sena

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena has allowed cable operators here to air an entertainment channel after it apologised for including two Pakistani stars in the reality show ‘Big Boss 4’, a party leader said Friday.

“We have received a written apology from an entertainment channel which stated that they did not mean to hurt anybody’s sentiments and that they regret the move,” Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab told reporters. “We had no issues with the channel per se. It is the show we are protesting against,” he added. But a channel official admitted that they had submitted a letter to the Shiv Sena but denied that it was an apology. Parab said Shiv Sena representatives will later meet the executives of the channel and insist on the removal of the two Pakistani stars — Veena Malik and Begum Nawazish Ali. “If they fail to remove the stars, our agitation continues,” he said. The Shiv Sena has been holding protests at Lonavala, a hill station around 120 km from here, where the ‘Bigg Boss 4’ shooting is on, demanding the removal of the Pakistani actors. Cable Operators and Distributors Association president Ganesh Naidu said: “Parab, who Wednesday requested us not to air the channel, late last (Thursday) night asked us to air the channel.” IANS