Will take action if you take law into own hands: BJP warns MNS

After threatening to "beat up" film makers Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt if they work with Pakistani artistes any more, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has been warned about facing appropriate action by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if they take law and order into their own hands.

BJP leader Shaina NC, questioning the locus standi of the MNS, told ANI, "It is the prerogative of the government of the day. And yes, we do have an isolation policy where we believe that in the current scenario, there must be no ties, economical, political, diplomatic or cultural, but that is the stand of the government."

"Any political party that chooses to take law into their hands will be dealt with appropriately," she added.

However, in a veiled hint at siding with the MNS on the matter, BJP parliamentarian Kirit Somaiya claimed that entrepreneurs in the Bollywood are doing business with Pakistani artistes for their commercial profit.

"They need to take the nation's feelings into consideration. I want to tell those entrepreneurs to understand what the nation is going through and don't ignore the sacrifices of our soldiers," he told ANI.

Yesterday, the threat to Bhatt and Johar was issued by the film wing of Raj Thackeray- led MNS who had earlier given a 48-hour deadline for all Pakistani artistes working in India to leave the nation.

"We had appealed to film industry not to work with Pakistani artistes in the wake of the Uri attack. However, Bhatt and Johar have not given a positive response to our appeal. If they work with any Pakistani artiste, they should be prepared for a befitting response from us," MNS Chitrapat Sena head Amey Khopkar said.

Speaking to a TV channel later in the day, he further stated that if Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt dare to make a film with Pakistani actors in the future, they will be 'beaten up' on the streets, adding that Pakistani artistes will also be meted with the same treatment.