By Gitanjali Das

After scuttling Pak singer Ghulam Ali's concerts, party demands ex-Pak foreign minister's event be cancelled.

The controversy surrounding the upcoming launch of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider's Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy deepened, with the Shiv Sena writing to the Nehru Centre in Worli asking its management to either cancel the event or face a 'Sena style' agitation. 

Just last week, a concert by Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali was called off following threats from the party. The Sena letter cites the party's opposition in the past to cricketers and artistes from Pakistan. Kasuri's book launch at the Nehru Centre on Monday has been organised by the Observer Research Foundation. 

"Our protest is on the same lines as in Ghulam Ali's case. Anyone from Pakistan, be it an artiste or a diplomat, should be banned from entering our country. Pakistan is doing nothing to put an end to terrorism. It is because of them that our jawans are dying on the border and countless terror attacks are happening in India," said senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut. 

Sena MLA Sunil Shinde, who helped draft the letter, said, "We don't know what is in the book. He is a Pakistani. We are opposed to Pakistani writers. Why is his book being publicised here? Why can't they do it in their own country? They should first teach their own people not to terrorise and then only speak about it in our country." Shinde said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assurance of support to Ali before the concert was cancelled flew in the face of his common stand against terrorism with the Sena. "It seems he is thinking something and saying something else. Anyone who has respect for the country will not attend," he added. 

The party's Vibhag Pramukh for Worli, Ashish Chemburkar, "We are Shiv Sainiks, no one can stop us." 

Despite the threat, ORF said the launch would take place, 'come what may'. ORF chairman Sudheendra Kulkarni had written to Fadnavis, seeking adequate security for Kasuri after Ali's concert was cancelled. 

"This shows that we are an intolerant state. They (Sena) are welcome to join us in a discussion after the launch. This is a democracy and they have the right to express their views, but it's not correct to take the law into their own hands," he said. 

SJaykumar, DCP (Zone III), said adequate security measures had been taken for the event. "We are ensuring proper bandobast," he said. 

Kulkarni added, "I have known Kasuri for a decade and he is my good friend. He is absolutely against terrorism, and this event can play a key role in improving Indo-Pak

relations. He had participated in discussions regarding the Kashmir issue when he was foreign minister. We have a right to diversity of opinion. Are they (Sena) against the Constitution?" 

Meanwhile, speaking to Mirror from Kasauli, where he is scheduled to speak at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival on Sunday, Kasuri confirmed his presence in the city on Monday. 

"The Sena issue is a question for the organisers, who have invited me, to answer. I am here to speak about my book, which is about my efforts to bring the two countries closer and broker peace." 

Satish Sahney, CEO, Nehru Centre, said the matter will be discussed with the management. "This is a purely academic exercise. The Sena is welcome to a discussion. There is little time left or we would have sent them copies of the book. Protesting is a democratic right but we should do everything within limits. Going beyond that will bring a bad name to our city. The launch in Delhi went off smoothly, so why not in Mumbai?" 

BJP's chief spokesperson, Madhav Bhandari, said, "Ours is a democratic country and Kasuri is free to express his views here. It is important as this is about foreign relations. He has written a crucial book that delves into Indo-Pak relations. The Sena has rarely been consistent in its stand regarding Pakistan. There have been many Ghulam Ali concerts in the past and many Pakistani cricketers have played in the city. So why all this hullabaloo now?"