Shiv Sena angry with SRK - Post All Articles HERE - Page 55

After the warning, Uddhav, the executive president of Shiv Sena, is reported to have responded that his security could be withdrawn by the state government.

"We have told them (Sena) that we'll withdraw security of all those people who are involved in those activities. I have already withdrawn the security of all Shiv Sena leaders, and if required, I will also withdraw the security of Uddhav Thackeray," he told CNN-IBN.

Chavan's tough talk came close on the heels of police security for three Shiv Sena leaders who protested against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to the city last Friday being withdrawn. The leaders were Ravindra Waikar, MLA and BMC, Standing Committee Chairman Bala Sawant, MLA and Anil Para, MLC.

Chavan also declared his government will not tolerate Sena's 'bullying tactics' and will spare nobody who came in the way of the release of Shah Rukh's film.

"There is no question of what Shiv Sena feels about it. I have assured the people of Maharashtra that we will take strong action against anybody who will take law into their hands," he said.

"For the Sena, it has become a matter of prestige, they are losing ground politically. So a non-issue has been picked up by them to create terror in the city, but we will not, under any circumstances, tolerate this," he added.

The mayhem began around noon, when 30 to 40 Shiv Sainiks attacked the Mehul theatre. They broke the glass of the window which was accepting advance bookings of the film as well as the frames enclosing posters of MNIK. A staffer of Mehul cinema said, "They barged into the theatre armed with sticks and bamboos shouting slogans against the film; the rampage went on for nearly twenty minutes." Ganesh Lodha, manager, Mehul cinema, said, "Our staffers were not injured but the entrance and booking windows were damaged."

The second attack was on the Huma Adlabs multiplex near the Kanjurmarg railway station where 16 Shiv Sainiks bought tickets for a Three Idiots show. Once inside, they shouted slogans against Shah Rukh Khan and tried to damage the screen using a blade that they were carrying with them.

Later in the day, at around 5:30pm, Santosh Mane, a 38-year-old Sena activist, not only managed to sneak into Big Cinema (Metro), just a stone's throw away from the Mumbai police headquarters, but also damage the screen using a blade. He had bought tickets for the movie Striker. "After the movie got over, Mane went near the screen and tore it with a blade which he had concealed," said police inspector Pradeep Londe of Azad Maidan police station.

Even though Mane claimed that he was alone, the police suspect that there were three more activists involved. The police are on the lookout for them.

On how Mane managed to sneak in with a blade, a police official said, "If a heavy metal is being carried through a metal detector, there is a specific indication. But if the metal is of low gauge, such as a coin, watch or mobile phone, the indication is of a different nature and the frisking is not very strict in those cases."

Meanwhile, around thirty to forty Sainiks staged a demonstration at
R Mall complex in Mulund but could not do any damage as police officials reached the spot and arrested them. Similarly, at Shreyas Cinema in Mulund and Neelyog, R City Mall and Jai Ganesh in Ghatkopar, Sainiks staged demonstrations but could do any damage due to the police bandobast at these places.

Additional commissioner of police, East Region, Ritesh Kumar told DNA earlier on Tuesday that they "have picked up around 206 Shiv Sainiks and the process is still on. Police staff has been posted at these places; also, state reserve police force (SRPF) companies will be deployed to avoid any such attacks in future".

But the Mumbai Police, a source said, advised Khan against taking the step. Reason: The ruling Congress-NCP combine wants to show that they are capable of fighting the Sena, which no longer is a force to reckon with.

A police officer advised Khan against meeting Thackeray. A Congress minister confirmed it. "We did stop Khan from visiting Balasaheb," he said. "He told us he had a good rapport with Balasaheb and that he would be able to convince him to ask the Shiv Sena to withdraw their protests against him and his film."
Arif Naseem Khan, the guardian minister for Mumbai suburbs, however said he did not know of any such thing.

Manohar Joshi, senior Sena leader, said the party had not given up its plan of opposing Khan's film. "We will not allow the movie to be released," he said. "He should first come and apologise to Balasaheb. Only then can we have talks."

Though policemen were posted near cinemas, Sainiks on Tuesday went on the rampage tearing posters of the film. The police recorded a few instances of stone pelting as well. Ashok Chavan, chief minister, announced on Monday that multiplexes screening the film would be provided with adequate security. "After Sena's flop show during Rahul Gandhi's visit, the government does not want the saffron party to get an upper hand," a Congress leader said.