Fadnavis has failed to understand Maharashtra: Sanjay Raut

Says Fadnavis has insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji's Maharashtra

Shiv Sena today hit out at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying he has failed to understand Maharashtra and his statement and his support to former Pakistan minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has insulted the martyrs of 26/11 terror attack.

"The CM says that our state has got a bad name due to our agitation against Khurshid Kasuri. This shows that he has failed to understand Maharashtra. His statement and his support (to Kasuri) has actually brought us a bad name," Sena MP Sanjay Raut told reporters here today.

Justifying the protests by his party against Kasuri's book launch, Raut said the "nationalistic ideals" of the Sena made it oppose the event.

"The Chief Minister has insulted the martyrs like Tukaram Omble who died while fighting Pakistani terrorists (referring to 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks) by asking policemen to provide security to a Pakistani. His (Fadnavis') statements have insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji's Maharashtra," he said.

If fighting against Pakistan is a crime, the Sena is ready to take responsibility for committing the crime, Raut stated.

The Shiv Sena had opposed the launch of Kasuri's book 'Neither a Hawk, Nor a Dove: An Insider Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy', saying there should be no engagement with Pakistan as long as it supports terror attacks on Indian soil.

Yesterday, Shiv Sena members threw black paint at ORF chairman Sudheendra Kulkarni, who was the organiser of Kasuri's book launch event.

Fadnavis, disapproving of the Sena's protests, had said last evening that it had brought disrepute to the state.

"We cannot endorse Kasuri, but can't let our state turn into banana republic. The rule of law has prevailed. I think the way things have happened has brought a bad name to our state. There could have been better ways to put forth a point of view," the CM had said.

Kasuri's book was released last night amid heavy security.