Shiv Sena dares Kasuri to pay tribute to Indian martyrs before book launch

Party says it will consider letting him go ahead with his book launch, if he does

The Shiv Sena on Sunday dared former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers, who died in the recent ceasefire violations, before his book launch here.

"Our issue is specifically with Pakistan and not with their artists. But be it Ghulam Ali or Kasuri, we are against having any relations with Pakistan until they stop attacking India and killing our people," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told ANI here.

However, he said that if Kasuri paid homage to the Indian soldiers, who had died at Pakistan's hands in the ceasefire violations before launching his book, then the Shiv Sena would consider letting him go ahead with his event.

"Terrorisms is deep rooted in Pakistan and Kasuri should condemn the way they are plotting to spread it in India. Does he have the guts to acknowledge the truth and honor our soldiers before the show starts? I don't think he does," Raut added.

Reacting to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's invitation to separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for talks, the Shiv Sena leader said it was a clear act by the hostile neighbor to split India.

"They are trying to divide our nation and we are empowering them by letting their artists into our country," Raut said.

The Shiv Sena has asked the organizers in Mumbai to call off Kasuri's book launch function, warning that the function will be disrupted if not cancelled.