Rijiju condemns ink attack on Kulkarni

Union Minister of State for Home Affair Kiren Rijiju on Monday condemned the ink attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni by the Shiv Sena, hours before the launch of a book of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, saying it was unjust to carry out violent forms of protest.

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"Every citizen of this country has got a right to protest. But, it should be done peacefully and in a manner that is according to the Constitution. Only then, can democracy move forward," Rijiju told media here.

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"Freedom to protest is provided to everyone, but, it should be done without any kind of physical violence. Law and order is a subject pertaining to the states, but, any foreigner, if he is not doing any harm to the nation and is just here to do a book launch, then incidents like these are not justified," he added.

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Following the attack, Kulkarni, who is the chairman of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), said he had no intention of scrapping the book launch.

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"The event is going to take place at 5.30 p.m. at the Nehru Centre in Mumbai, despite the threats we've received from the Shiv Sena," Kulkarni told the media.

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The Shiv Sena has described the launch of Kasuri's book as an insult to martyred Indian soldiers, and warned of severe repercussions if the event is not cancelled.