Ink attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni: Reactions pour in ahead of Kasuri book launch
Mumbai: Shiv Sena workers attacked writer Sudheendra Kulkarni on Monday, dousing him in black ink for organising the launch of former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book “Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider’s Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy”.
The incident has triggered massive outrage in the country and reactions have been pouring in from all quarters over the attack, with many calling it a shameful incident for a democratic country like India.
Following are the reactions from famous personalities and political bigwigs on the ink attack:
LK Advani, BJP veteran: “I strongly condemn whosoever has done this. Off late we have seen an increase in cases of intolerance, this is against democracy.”
Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra chief minister: “Kasuri and the program will be provided total security. But this doesn’t mean that we endorse all views expressed in the program. No anti-India propaganda will be tolerated through any such program. If found so, the organisers would be held responsible.”
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader: “This is not ink, but the blood of our martyrs on his face. He should feel ashamed for siding with Pakistan’s ‘chamchaas’. This much reaction just because of a little ink on his face? You cannot stop people as they have pent up hatred against Pakistan in their minds.”
Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: "In a democracy everyone has the right to agree or disagree. But, this type of protest is not justified as it is against the very core of our democratic values. This is not the way"
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: "This is about mentality...In this country, everyone has a fundamental right to protest but there has to be a way to protest, not physically harm anyone. This is not right"
Many leaders and famous personalities took to the microblogging site Twitter to condemn the attack.
Such Intolerance in India can't be tolerated. First Ghulam Ali concert and now Kasuri's book launch. We don't want a Desi Taliban in India
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) October 12, 2015Black paint is not on @SudheenKulkarni 's face, but a dark blot on Indian democracy. The forces of fascism are flying high.
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) October 12, 2015Am deeply saddened by Shiv Senas attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni.wish 2talk 2 @uddhavthackeray n @AUThackeray but neither is talking my calls
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) October 12, 2015The attack on Sudhendra Kulkarni ridicules our constitution, shames our police, & debunks our claims to be a democracy.
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) October 12, 2015#Pakistankachamcha seems to be the tag for anyone who doesn't want to bomb Pakistan back in to the dark ages.
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) October 12, 2015
I strongly condemn attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni. I'm going 2 b @ Khurshid Kasuri bk launch. Urge #Mumbaikars 2 come support @Dev_Fadnavis
— ShainaNC (@ShainaNC) October 12, 2015Brinda Karat: We condemn incident involving Sudheendra Kulkarni by Shiv Sena 2 disrupt book release fn. Action should be taken against them.
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) October 12, 2015