Shiv Sena activists allegedly throw black paint on Sudheendra Kulkarni for organising ex-Pak minister Kasuri's book launch

Mumbai: Shiv Sena activists on Monday allegedly threw ink on Sudheendra Kulkarni, who is the organiser of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book launch in Mumbai.

Kulkarni has said that there were 8 to 10 activists when he was attacked. "Sainiks attacked me outside my home. Eight to ten Shiv Sena activists came home and right as I was leaving black paint was smeared all over my face. I was abused by them," said Kulkarni.

The incident took place just hours after Kulkarni meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray failed to yield any results. The Sena has threatened to disrupt the event and has written to the director of Worli's Nehru Centre, the launch venue, to cancel the show because of the Pakistan connection.

Despite threats, a key organiser of the event has said the event will continue as scheduled. Sudheendra Kulkarni, Chairman of Observer and Research Foundation, a foreign policy think tank, said, "Our event will go on as planned. We have been assured full security and assistance by the police."

Sources said that Uddhav has made the party's stand clear to Kulkarni and told the organisers that Kasuri is not an artist but a part of a political system that sponsors terror in India.

Condemning the incident, Congress leader Sachin Samant said, "We condemn the dirty politics of Shiv Sena. The state government has not been able to get the Shiv Sena on the board. A political game is being played. Shiv Sena is looking for issues."

The incident took even as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the organisers of full security cover.

Fadnavis said, "For all foreigners, diplomats or foreign dignitaries who are allowed on proper visa in our country it is the responsibility of our goverment to provide them security. Hence Mr.Kasuri and the program will be provided total security. But this doesn't mean that we endorse all views expressed in the program. No anti-India propaganda will be tolerated through any such program. If found so, the organisers would be held responsible."

Kasuri is scheduled to attend the launch of his book 'Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider's Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy' at 5.30 PM in Worli area here.

Last week, similar threat by Sena to disrupt Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali concert resulted in the cancellation of the event.