Mumbai: Noisy protests by Shiv Sena workers at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai over proposed talks for resumption of cricketing ties with Pakistan, has evoked sharp reactions, with various parties condemning the incident.
"We are a democratic nation and every one has the right to protest on any issue in a democratic manner. But there is a difference between a democratic way and hooliganism. No one accepts such a kind of protest," Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
Congress leader Manish Tewari described the incident as "abominable" and said law and order had completely "broken down" in Maharashtra, and Mumbai has been reduced to a "mobocracy", citing a spate of recent incidents, including the cancellation of ghazal singer Ghulam Ali's show due to Sena's protests.
"It is extremely unfortunate... This is extremely abominable. Law and order has completely broken down in Maharashtra. The President of India should take cognisance of this," he said.
NCP leader Rahul Narvekar said Sena has been involved in such activities since very long.
"This is not how you express your resentment to a particular thought. You adopt constitutional measures which are available with you," he said.
Questioning Shiv Sena, the NCP leader said, "When you are a part of an alliance, is it justified? You have to uphold the Constitution. What are you doing...If we talk about the recent examples, they were unconstitutional. Unfortunately, with a great deal of disappointment, I have to say the Fadnavis government seems to have got down to political compulsions as against their political responsibilities. It is unfortunate."
Meanwhile, justifying the protest by party workers, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, "We have not committed any crime by protesting. We are opposing Pakistan and our stand against them is nothing new. This is not a political protest. We are only doing what is the feeling of the people of this country, because feelings of people are important to us."
"The people of the nation do not want any relations with Pakistan till they stop terrorist activities and hatching conspiracies against India. There will be no cricket, cultural and political relations with them until they stop doing it," Raut said.
Taking forward its campaign against Pakistani personalities, Shiv Sena workers today stormed the BCCI headquarters in protest against planned talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shaharyar Khan for resumption of bilateral cricketing ties.
The talk slated for Monday has been now been rescheduled for Tuesday.
