'High-profile Maharashtrian' Shobha De says being picked upon by politically motivated Shiv Sena

Famed novelist Shobha De said on Thursday that she was as Maharashtrian as anyone else living in Mumbai, and accused a politically motivated Shiv Sena of picking on her.

"They are picking on me because I'm a Maharashtrian and it suits their political objectives. Right now, the Shiv Sena is definitely a party on the backtrack and they don't have the same kind of position that they had a decade ago. And with elections round the corner, they probably want to assert themselves and want to show that they are still in-charge of the city.

Easiest way to do it, is to pick a target like myself - a high profile person. They get a lot of publicity, they get primetime, they get front page news," she told ANI.

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"I feel very sad because they are talking about insulting Maharashtrian culture - I am a Maharasthrian and a very proud Maharashtrian," she added.

The reaction came after the Shiv Sena protested outside De's residence earlier in the day to protest against her remarks opposing the state government's order to air Marathi films at prime time.

The protesters, numbering around 100, were seen carrying trays of "vada pav" and "dahi misal" to mock the tweet made by the famed novelist that Marathi food would now be served at multiplexes as opposed to the standard popcorn fare.