BJP patriarch L K Advani on Monday 12 October condemned the paint-smearing attack on his one-time aide Sudheendra Kulkarni by Shiv Sena activists and voiced concern over the "growing intolerance" in the country towards any counter viewpoint, PTI reports.
"I strongly condemn whosoever has done it.... In the last few days, there are these signs...where any person or any point of view is not acceptable, then you resort to violence or turn intolerant towards them. This is a matter of concern for the nation. Democracy must ensure tolerance for a different point of view," Advani said.
The senior BJP leader was speaking at the sidelines of a function in New Delhi where a journal on strategic affairs named 'Chanakya' was launched. He, however, added that he did not have any information on who attacked Kulkarni as he is yet to communicate with him.
"I could not contact Sudheendra ji. I think, at least those who are involved with us should work to strengthen democracy and not encourage such acts of violence and disown them.I do not know who has done it and therefore I cannot name anyone. But whosoever has done it, has besmirched the good name of the country," the former deputy Prime Minister said.
IANS reports from Mumbai that Pakistan's former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri has also condemned the attack on Kulkarni. "I feel saddened and unhappy by this attack on Kulkarni whom I have known for many years... I condemn it... the right to protest must be peaceful and these people must change their tactics of protest," Kasuri said at a hurriedly convened press conference in Mumbai following the incident.
"I have come with a message of peace... An overwhelming majority of people in both countries want peace between the two countries... But, there are some who don't want India-Pakistan peace," Kasuri said.
In New Delhi, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also disapproved of Shiv Sena activists smearing black paint on Kulkarni saying everyone has the freedom to protest but not physically harm anyone.
