Shiv Sena workers disrupt Pakistani band's press conference

Swinging into action, police managed to evict the protesters and the entrance to the club was shut

A group of about 60 members of the saffron Shiv Sena on Tuesday disrupted the  the press conference of a Indian-Pakistani band in the Mumbai Press Club in south Mumbai.

They shouted slogans "Pakistanis go back" and "Vande Mataram,'' and demanded that Pakistani Sufi band Mekaal Hasan be sent back. "No Pakistani individual or group will be allowed in Mumbai," the protesters shouted.

 

Meekal Hasan Band artistes with their Indian counterparts were at the venue. Protesters overturned chairs when they were in the middle of a media briefing.

 

The police were immediately called in and they evicted the Sena workers. A case of unauthorised entry has been filed. There were no reports of vandalism. 

 

Incidentally, Shiv Sena MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut defended the protest by his party workers. "There is nothing like artistes. Pakistanis are Pakistanis." He said those who have invited them should be  blamed.

 

On the other hand, ruling NCP has strongly attacked Shiv Sena for targeting the Pakistan band artistes. State NCP executive president Jitendra Avhad condemned the incident, saying that it shows Shiv Sena's doublespeak.

"Pakistan cricketer Javed Miadad was rolled out a red carpet in the past for his meeting with the Shiv Sena supremo late Bal Thackeay. Shiv Sena should not politicise arts, culture,'' Avhad said.

 

It must be mentioned here that Shiv Sena had protested against the inclusion of Pakistani television host and cross dresser Begum Nawazish Ali and actor Veena Malik in Bigg Boss show in 2010 and had also disrupted a Sindhi Sufi music festival in Delhi last year where artists from the neighburing country were present.