Under fire over “brokering” a deal between producers of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has maintained that he had opposed the offer of Rs 5 crore contribution from the makers to the Army welfare fund.
While a new report by CNN News18 says that according to industry sources, Fadnavis “egged on” Karan Johar to donate money. It also said that Karan readily complied to “get out of the mess”. Fadnavis pushed for the donation to get Raj Thackeray to back off, reported CNN News18.
The report also quoted Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik as saying that MNS is working with the Maharashtra government to wreak havoc.
Karan Johar's film faced protests from MNS workers for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.
The film's smooth release, scheduled to open on 28 October, was ensured at a meeting of Film Producers' Guild, producers and the MNS, mediated by Fadnavis last week. A key demand conceded in the meeting was Rs 5 crore contribution from the film makers for the Army welfare.
Thackeray had put three demands, out of which there was no objections to the other two. When the issue of contributing Rs 5 crore came up, I intervened and made it clear to the Film Producers’ Guild that they need not have to agree to it. I also told them that the contribution has to be made voluntarily. However, it was the producers’ decision to accept it.Fadnavis, Maharashtra Chief Minister
“I categorically told that although it is nice that the guild has decided to stand by the families of our martyrs but it is not a compulsion. Still if they wish to do, they may contribute whatever amount they feel (is) appropriate. This figure of (Rs) 5 crore came from the MNS but was not agreed in the meeting and turned down then and there only,” he said.
When asked about allegations of "brokering" the deal, Fadnavis said, "Another choice was deploying thousands of police staff outside theatres (when the film releases). I would then face allegations like I have spoiled the police staff’s Diwali holiday mood. Issues should be solved talking, and we are a democratic government," he said.
When asked if the state should have intervened, Fadnavis said that it was not his decision to do so, the Guild asked him to step in, reported The Economic Times.
Before intervention, Mumbai Police had already arrested MNS activists, hence there should not be any doubts about the government's intentions. Some even called that state government is playing both sides, which is not true, he added.
BJP's ally Shiv Sena has slammed the CM's intervention in the matter and had termed Fadnavis' act as "siding with Pakistani personalities."
On this, the CM said, "Did our governments not talk with separatists like Hurriyat (Conference) or negotiate with Naxal groups for peace? Then holding discussions with a political party, though this is comparatively a minor one (issue), should not be criticised so bitterly. I think, successful mediation has disappointed some people," he said.
He also refuted charges of going soft on the MNS and emphasised that there was "no political motive" behind such negotiations.
(With inputs from PTI, The Economic Times)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)