On SRK, Raj accuses Sena of 'double standards'(Lead)

Mumbai, Feb 11 (IANS) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray Thursday accused the Shiv Sena of 'double standards' for ignoring Amitabh Bachchan for sharing the dais with Pakistani artistes while targeting his Bollywood peer Shah Rukh Khan.

'They are demanding an apology from Khan for his remarks on Pakistani players. But Bachchan was seen a couple of days ago sharing the dais with Pakistani artistes and reciting poems. If Khan has to apologise, then why not Bachchan,' Raj Thackeray asked at a press conference here.

He said Bachchan had earlier rejected a doctorate from an Australian university for the race attacks on Indians there but had shared a dais with artistes from Pakistan, which harboured terrorists who attacked Mumbai.

But the MNS chief added: 'However, we are not demanding that Bachchan should tender an apology nor shall we agitate against him.' The estranged nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray pointed out that Bachchan had close family ties with the senior Thackeray family.

'Why only Khan should be targeted?' he asked. The MNS chief made it clear that his party would not protest against Shah Rukh's new movie 'My Name Is Khan', which is set for release Friday. Karan Johar is the filmmaker.

Pointed out that he had opposed another Karan Johar movie 'Wake Up Sid', Raj Thackeray said there were certain 'objectionable portions' in the film but this was not the case with 'My Name Is Khan'.

The Shiv Sena has come out against the release of 'My Name is Khan' after Shah Rukh refused to apologise for suggesting that Pakistani cricketers should have been picked for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to the Shiv Sena, the Pakistani cricketers need to be boycotted because of Islamabad's support to terrorism in India.

Also Wednesday, Smita Thackeray, the estranged daughter-in-law of Bal Thackeray, also came out against the Shiv Sena's protests against 'My Name is Khan', saying all issues can be sorted out amicably.

In Mumbai, the police have made tight security arrangements at all the 63 cinema halls to ensure a peaceful release of the much-awaited movie.