Dismissing reports that protests against the launch of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri's book had been called off, Shiv Sena on Monday said that it will not allow "anti-national activities". The party claimed that the Pakistani politician supports Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat Conference.
Shiv Sena workers had smeared ink on the face of Sudheendra Kulkarni, the organiser of the book launch, earlier on Monday, and had faced strong criticism over the action.
While reports suggested that the right-wing party had called off its protest after intervention by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said the party will continue with the protest.
"Kasuri has been supporting the Hurriyat Conference. Welcoming such a person on a red carpet is disrespecting our nation," Raut said.
He also said that Shiv Sena had sent "evidence of Kasuri's anti-India actions" to the Maharashtra chief minister.
"We have sent to the CM the evidence of former Pak Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's acts against India," he said.
The Shiv Sena also brazenly defended the ink attack on Kulkarni, calling it a "mild" and "non-violent" reaction.
Message is going around that we have withdrawn our protest, this is a blatant lie. We hold our stand: Sanjay Raut pic.twitter.com/tyQMJwY2pd
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 12, 2015
