This Article is From Oct 12, 2015

Ex-Pak Minister Kasuri's Book Launched in Mumbai, Despite Paint Attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni

Sudheendra Kulkarni (R) and Ex Pak Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri (L) (PTI Photo)

Mumbai: Former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri's book was launched in Mumbai on Monday hours after columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni, who organized the event, was attacked with black paint by Shiv Sena activists.

Here are 10 developments in the story:

  1. Mr Kasuri's book "Neither a Hawk, Nor a Dove: An Insider Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy" was launched in the presence of a heavy security contingent.

  2. In the morning, over a dozen Shiv Sena activists threw black paint at Mr Kulkarni, who had refused to cancel the event. Mr Kulkarni was forced to go to a hospital to get the paint off. Six Shiv Sena workers have been arrested for the paint attack.

  3. The Shiv Sena, which co-governs Maharashtra with the BJP, says there should be no engagement with Pakistan as long as it supports terror attacks on Indian soil. Last week, the party forced the cancellation of legendary Pakistani Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai.

  4. "The partition that happened is not what our freedom fighters dreamt... we have to undo the mistakes of past," Mr Kulkarni said at the launch.

  5. Mr Kasuri, who had arrived for the launch escorted by 10 cars and a busload of policemen, said: "PM (Narendra) Modi made a promise of development but we need peace. I hope the PM realizes that Atal Bihari Vajpayee's route was the right one."

  6. Despite being hit by waves of condemnation over the paint attack, the Sena did not call off its protest but did appear to tone it down.

  7. The paint attack was "non-violent, democratic and historic," said the party's young leader Aditya Thackeray. "Ink spilt may be more violent for you than its intent to protest against all the innocent blood spilt on the streets of Mumbai, Jammu and Kashmir, every city that has faced Pakistan-sponsored terrorism," he added.

  8. Facing criticism for not reining in his ally, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

  9. The party also scoffed at BJP veteran LK Advani's condemnation of the attack. "If you don't like someone or his opinion, showing intolerance is wrong," Mr Advani had said. The Sena retorted: "It is not his age to get into all this."  

  10. Before Chief Minister Fadnavis ran interference with the Sena, he told reporters that it was his government's duty to protect foreigners or dignitaries but added: "No anti-India propaganda will be tolerated through any such program, if found so, the organisers would be held responsible."



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