Raj attacks Shiv Sena, Bachchan

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray today attacked the Shiv Sena for targeting Shah Rukh Khan and sparing Amitabh Bachchan. He said even while Shah Rukh was attacked for his statement in favour of Pakistani cricketers, Bachchan was spared despite sharing the dais with the neighbouring country recently.

He asserted that if Shah Rukh’s (remarks on Pakistani players) was a publicity stunt, “the same is true about Amitabh also”. Raj added he would not join the Sena agitation against the actor, but concentrate on working for Marathi manoos.

Raj’s attack on Bachchan was expected as he was recently praised by the Sena leader, Bal Thackeray. Also, the megastar recently accepted the Gujarat government’s proposal to be its brand ambassador.

“Amitabh Bachchan shared the dais with Pakistani actor Zia Mohyeddin at a media-sponsored programme recently. But the issue was not raised like that of Shah Rukh Khan,” Raj told reporters.

Terming Bachchan’s behaviour as “duplicity”, he said: “Amitabh refused to accept an honour from an Australian university last year (to protest the attacks on Indians there). How can he now share the dais with a Pakistani actor when terrorists from the same country have attacked us?”

On the government’s stand on the issue, Raj said it was true that the law and order situation was not good but he would not like to speak anything in that regard.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said that the government had already assured necessary security, only the multiplexes needed to show boldness in screening My Name is Khan.