After ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, the Shiv Sena has asked the management of a city-based convention centre here to call off Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book launch function.
Citing the neighbouring country’s support to terrorism as the reason behind the opposition, the party warned that the function will be disrupted if not canceled.
Sena Vibhag Pramukh Ashish Chemburkar submitted a letter to director of Nehru Planetarium in Mumbai, demanding that the event be cancelled and organisers informed accordingly.
“The people at Nehru Planetarium where the event is scheduled, told us they will try to cancel it,” Chemburkar said. “We have informed them that we will disrupt the event if it is not canceled,” he added.
The Observer Research Foundation Mumbai, which is organising the event, had approached Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday seeking “adequate security” to Kasuri.
Kasuri will launch the book Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider’s Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy , in Mumbai on October 12.
Our purpose in organising this function is to make our own humble contribution to the much-needed normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. Kasuri’s widely appreciated book shows his strong commitment to peaceful and cooperative ties between our two countries.
– Sudheendra Kulkarni, ORF Chairman
“The launch of the book will be accompanied by a panel discussion, in which the speakers are: A G Noorani, eminent jurist, historian and author; Naseeruddin Shah, renowned film and theatre personality; and Dileep Padgaonkar, eminent journalist and columnist,” Kulkarni, who will moderate the talk, had said.
During his stay in Mumbai between October 11 and 14, Kasuri, besides attending the book launch function, will also visit Mani Bhavan and Jinnah House “if possible”, he said.
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