MUMBAI: Taking a very aggressive stand against a unapologetic actor Shah Rukh Khan, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday evening issued a blatant threat to Khan stating that the actor would face the Sena music on his return to Mumbai from New York. Khan stoutly defied the demand of Bal Thackeray to apologize and said “I will never apologize to Thackeray, come what may, “ in New York. Khan is the first Bollywood actor who mustered the courage to counter Thackeray, while till today, no one in the industry had dared to take upon Thackeray, out of fear and backlash.
Speaking to journalists, Sanjay Raut, Sena Member of Parliament and Executive Editor of party mouthpiece Saamna said that Khan stood to his stubborn attitude and refused to apologize to Sena chief Bal Thackeray for his statement of backing Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League3 (IPL3).
Khan reacting to the Sena threats earlier had said on Monday in New York that he would never apologize to Thackeray nor feel sorry for his statement. “ I don’t feel the need to say sorry, for I have committed no crime,” said the actor, which was seen as snub to Thackeray.
From the latest Sena threat it appears that Bal Thackeray would not allow the actor and his family to live in peace in Mumbai. The threat also loom over his family wife Gauri and a son and daughter. It’s obvious that Sena workers would violently protest at the Mumbai airport on his return from US, and the police would not be able to control the mob, which would lead to some sort of physical attack on Khan.
In what is seen as a clear threat to the life of Khan, Raut said “Let him come to Mumbai and then we will see. If Khan has courage he would say in Mumbai what he has said sitting in New York. The actor should not forget that his bungalow Mannat is situated in Mumbai and not in Pakistan. If India has a major threat, it is because of people like him. He is a good artist, but this is not Shah Rukh Khan speaking, but it is the Congress that is speaking through him,” Raut added.
The threat and personal attacks are now getting dirtier day by day, and the Maharashtra government is just acting as a mute spectator, and completely spineless to take any action against the Sena leaders. The whole issue is now being given a communal color by the Sena.
Reacting to the threats to the actor, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and federal aviation minister Praful Patel said in New Delhi that the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has assured that any personality from the film industry who receive threats, will be given full security.
Chavan speaking to journalists in Mumbai said that the state government would deal with an iron hand anyone who attempt to disturb law and order in the state and that “highest priority would be accord to the security of all, a indirect reference to the security of Khan. “ No one will be allowed to take law into their hands. Strict action would be taken if anyone tried to take law into their hands while protesting against Khan or against his forthcoming movie “My name is Khan,”.
The Sena has written letters to all management of all the theaters and multipliexes in Mumbai and neighboring Thane district warning them against screening the movie and warned of dire consequences. Many of the theaters and multiplexes bowing to the threats of the Sena had written back assuring that they would not screen the movie, unless the Sena gives clearance for its screening, nor they would put up an posters of the movie.
