Shiv Sena to call off stir, won’t disrupt MNIK shows

Mumbaikars gave a resounding “thumbs up” to Shahrukh Khan’s “My Name is Khan“ on Friday, turning up in large numbers at cinemas which screened the film under tight police security.

Following this, the Shiv Sena agitation against Khan and his new film is being withdrawn. The party has claimed an “apology” from the star that formed part of the actor’s Twitter remarks. Khan had refused to meet the Thackerays over the issue of his argument that Pakistani players could have been taken for the IPL matches. He had also said Mumbai was for all Indians. In his post to his fans, Khan said if he had caused any one hurt by his remarks which were totally unintentional, he regretted it.

The Sena, thoroughly browbeaten by the enthusiastic fans of Shahrukh, latched on to the Twitter post and said it was an apology and was going to withdraw the agitation that had raised tension in Mumbai. Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut claimed “victory” as the party’s agitation was a “big success”, as only a few cinemas showed the film.

This was seen as a face saver for the Sena. By evening on Friday, normal screenings had resumed in many cinemas in multiplexes.

In a show of Bollywood solidarity with the actor, director Mahesh Bhatt and actress Puja Bedi appealed to the peo0ple to defy Sena threats and watch the film and enjoy it without fear.

Heavy security personally supervised by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan ensured there were no ugly incidents and harassment of the cinegoers. Realising that its agitation had hardly any public backing, the Sena had no option than to allow Khan’s film to be shown in the Maharashtra theatres.

After Rahul Gandhi’s recent successful visit to Mumbai defying Sena threats, even traveling in suburban train, the Khan episode is the second flop show for the Thackerays—Balasaheb and son Uddhav. It has been clearly proved there is no place for divisive politics of the sort played by the Sena.

- Asian Tribune -