Mumbai: The city once again saw the ugly side of intolerance as Shiv Sainiks threw black paint on writer Sudheendra Kulkarni, who organised a Mumbai book launch for former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmoud Kasuri.
Despite the threats and attack on him from the Sainiks on Monday morning, he stuck to his guns and said that the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a think tank that he heads, would go ahead with the evening’s programme.
Kasuri’s book, Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove: An Insider’s Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy, was scheduled to be launched at the Nehru Centre with key speakers being lawyer and author A.G. Noorani, Dileep Padgaonkar, former editor of Times of India, actor Naseeruddin Shah, and Satish Sahney, Chief Executive, Nehru Centre.
The Centre, a much sought-after venue of peaceful, cultural and educational events became a virtual fortress as police deployed Riot Control Police, Rapid Intervention Vehicles and put up barricades, cordoning off the Centre.
The incident evoked outrage over what many called an assault on India’s democracy even as the Sena justified it and its senior leader Sanjay Raut described it as a “mild attack,” saying “This is not ink but the blood of our martyrs on his face.” He added: “This much reaction just because of a little ink on his face? You cannot stop people as they have pent up hatred against Pakistan in their minds.”
Kulkarni and the former Pakistan minister later spoke at a press conference where he said: “I welcome Kasuri to this great city. I thank him for coming even though we already had indications about some forces threatening him.”
Kasuri, on the other hand, said, “I’m sad and upset over the paint attack on Kulkarni. I have come here with a message peace. The people of Pakistan want good ties with India.”
“I have been a political worker myself, I understand political protests but it should be in a peaceful manner. They have a right to protest as long as it is within the law.” He also said he wanted to pay tribute to Mumbai, where his father studied.
The Pakistani leader said the main purpose of his visit was to talk about the peace process between India and Pakistan during his tenure.
“Pakistan and India are not born to hate each other. If there are men of goodwill on both sides, the situation could easily change That is what is contained in my book and I thought it was important to give this message,” he said.
Kulkarni , who was formerly with the BJP, was attacked in the morning when some men told him to come out of his car as he was setting off from his house to his ORF office. They asked why he was going ahead with the event, “threatened me and then smeared my face with black paint, saying ‘khabardar’ (beware).
“We won’t be cowed down by such events and the book launch will happen as planned.” The Sion police station has filed a case against six unknown person.
Kulkarni met Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, and tried to explain but the latter said the Sena’s stand remained the same against Pakistan from the time of his father, the late Bal Thackeray, Sena’s supremo.
The ORF head also met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who has promised full security so that the event can be held but he made it clear that “no anti-India propaganda will be tolerated” and that he would hold the organizers responsible.
