India arrests six Shiv Sena activists for attacking Kasuri book launch organiser
84
MUMBAI: Indian police said Tuesday they had arrested six members of far-right political group Shiv Sena over an ink attack on an activist who organised the launch of former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book.
As he left his Mumbai home on Monday, Sudheendra Kulkarni had ink thrown on him by a group of activists from the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party, in the latest apparent attack on free speech in the country.
“We have arrested six men, they are all Shiv Sainiks and have been released on bail,” Mumbai Police Deputy Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni told AFP.
Sudheendra Kulkarni condemned the incident as an “assault on democracy” as he addressed the media in Mumbai on Monday, his face and hair covered in ink.
The launch of Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book “Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider's Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy” later passed in the western Indian city without incident.
Speaking to a news conference, Kulkarni said: “I welcome Mr Kasuri to this great city. I thank him for coming even though we already had indications about some forces threatening him.”
Kasuri sat by his side at the press meet, the painted face glistening in camera lights, Dawn newspaper reported.
Kulkarni blamed the Shiv Sena for the attack on him and said the group had threatened to disrupt the launch of Kasuri’s book in “typical Shiv Sena style”. He added: “Even then the scheduled launch will be held as planned.”
Kulkarni had earlier tweeted that the conflict between India and Pakistan could be resolved only through dialogue. He said the book launch was a small endeavour to keep the process of dialogue alive.
Kulkarni is a former member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was a key member of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s team and helped write his speeches. In recent years, he has been critical of right-wing groups allied to the BJP.
The Shiv Sena, a junior partner in a ruling coalition with the BJP in the Maharashtra state government, was last week accused of using threats to force the cancellation of an appearance in Mumbai by Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali.
Also read: Is Ghulam Ali to bear the brunt of what Ajmal Kasab did?
There are growing concerns over freedom of speech in India after the execution-style killing in August of M.M. Kalburgi, a leading secular scholar who had angered hardline Hindu groups.
Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut described the ink attack as a “non-violent protest”.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (84) Closed
Oct 13, 2015 10:38am
Mr.Kasuri book has got more publicity than his expectation.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:40am
Intolerance at its peak.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:44am
I am pretty sure there will be some deal on book sale between kasuri , kulkarni and sena.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:45am
This unfortunate incident should serve as a blessing in disguise and open up many minds in both countries to rational thinking and peaceful endeavors. There is no way out other than peace.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:46am
Incredible india.
This type of country now wants to have veto power in UN!
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:47am
Democractic india? Give me a break
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:55am
Looks like all is stage managed.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:57am
@Ali mind you China has a veto power a country which ran tanks over its citizens
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:59am
@shah ...it's a democracy.....that's why they were prosecuted....what is ur point????
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:05am
I'm sure India can do better than this - sanity will prevail.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:12am
Intolerance in India and Pakistan are the two side of the same coin since their inderpendenc
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:15am
Shiv Sena has no idea how negatively they cast India in the world's media. India had a carefully crafted image that made it seem like it was a bastion of tolerance. Since Modi has come in to office, outlets around the world have been picking up on more and more stories of intolerance, and this just adds to the case. Maybe papers are looking for bad incidents just to sell newspapers, but whatever their motivation, they are showing the world a completely different side of India than Indians wish to portray. World knows that these extremists are also the allies of Modi.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:24am
@Angry Pitbull ; great way to justify bad behavior!
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:28am
Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarniyou are a brave man and a man of principles. I salute you.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:31am
Whether its India/Pak/Bangla its same DNA just different religion.Rogue people are there in all these countries.Question is Who is managing them better?India certainly needs to improve a lot but i feel they are lot better than their other two counter parts
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:48am
Peaceful protest is alright.. Frankly speaking, we are not interested in Pak policy books.. Fiction is fine..
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:49am
Wow the largest democratic nation!!!!!!! Well done team India.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:49am
Its funny Pakistan talks about intolerance.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:50am
It seems to be stage manged. Kulkarni came on media other day during Ghulam Ali's controversy and challenged Shiv Sena to disrupt the book launch. Prior to that no one even knew about Kasuri demonstrate their power in Mumbai. Let's see how much business finally Kulkarni, Kasuri and Shiv Sena is able to garner from the sell of this book. I am for sure not going to buy it.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:55am
Little ink on the face is by no means violence, I would agree with Shiv Sena that it was peaceful protest. The guy was not beaten, not even roughed up.
This is no different that pie slammed in the face protest which happens in West and not considered violence. Actually it is considered "acceptable" form of political protest.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 11:57am
redaing some comments of fellowmen across the borders i would like to submit that India is a true democracy. The hundreds/thousands of elections held so far are testament to this. Some people are probably confusing crime and corruption with the concept of democracy
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:03pm
One organisations actions does not represent entire country. I expect people to look that there are way more people in india who opposes such moves and condemn those who do such unlawful events.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:10pm
Good lesson learned...Why Mr. Kasuri has to go to India to launch his book. Why not launch in London or UAE???
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:18pm
The discussion in this forum is misdirected. Please appreciate that it was Indian government which issued visa to Mr. Kasuri in spite of possibility of a few controversial references in his book to past stance of Indian representatives. Subsequently, the Maharashtra BJP government discharged its responsibility of providing security for the event, in spite of its survival being dependent on Shiv Sena support. How is this at cross-purpose to India's bid for UNSC seat? Nor has it anything to do with secularism (is Shiv Sena opposing book release because author is Muslim?)
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:18pm
Kausri should not have gone to India to degrade himself for few dollars. The same applies to Pakistani athletes and artists. Indians and Pakistanis are very different when it comes to hospitality
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:19pm
Kasuri has gone a way forward to launch his book .
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:20pm
@Khan,Canada Why not launch in Pakistan ?? Are there no readers ?
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:28pm
Indian public won't stand up against these things till Pakistani elements are attached to it.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:30pm
Why blame Shiv Sena? Kasuri should not have gone to India in first place!
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:31pm
why not arresting the leader of shiv sena who ordered the assault?
why only activists? this is a mere hollow action to diminish the embarrassment india has faced globally.
Kulkarni should also file a case against them.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 12:33pm
@jakoji ... I don't think you represent the entire indian people. Speak for yourself and you don't have to buy the book either.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 01:15pm
Whatever Shivsena did was wrong and those behind this incident should be punished.
Pakistan should take a note of this incident and should prevent Pakistani authors, artists, sports-persons from traveling to India
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 01:19pm
the painted face glistening in camera lights
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 01:26pm
The gentleman's book got a great boost. Free advertisement.
Anyways, it was not something to be welcomed.But, then that has been the Shiv Sena politics for decades. Find a culprit and fix faults on him.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 01:41pm
Only few fanatics on both sides do not want cultural & sports events.I badly miss Ghulam Ali saheb concert . He is in our hearts like Mehndi Hasan marhum. Shiv Sena must have lost many supporters , I am for sure
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 01:43pm
While criticism of Shiv Sena's action is certainly expected and is logical too, but over the top criticism of India as a nation based on this event is certainly unwarranted.
Certainly not from a country where people are often murdered for differences in opinion. After all most of us would have been happy if Sabeen Mehmud had ink spilt on her rather than being riddled with bullets for organising an event. Salmaan Taseer is another poignant reminder. With all its ills and imbalances, democracy in India ensures a much better and tolerant political environment. Though needless to say we still have a long way to go.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 02:01pm
@Raghu - and you say this as though yours is a perfect example of 'tolerance'?
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 02:15pm
The painted black face of kulkarni shows the reality of so called world's largest democracy.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 02:23pm
This undisciplined organizers are responsible but Indian authorities should make sure that these Pakistani guests should not do any anti national activities in India.Kasuri's book was already launched in Delhi so why relaunching in Mumbai.Mumbai people have no soft corner for Pakistani's,they gets angry when somebody develops soft corner for Pakistani people.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 02:35pm
Why Kasuri wanted to launch it in India...?
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 02:44pm
disgraceful act. Mr Kasuri Saab should have launched his book in East Punjab which is a much safer place for fellow Punjabis from all this extremists and fanatics.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 02:54pm
Pakistan and Pakistani are our own. If situation arises in India, I would die for securing life of a Pakistani. I do not know who is Shiv Sena or this-that. The only thing that I know is I love Pakistan and Pakistani.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 03:26pm
Ink is a chemical. This was a chemical attack, it could very well have been acid. And it is no a non-violent attack.
This was an act of terrorism. Why did the perpetrators get bail?
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 03:29pm
@Sri China is a founding memeber and the only Asian country to have permanent status. Several million of its people were killed by Japanese in the second world war.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 03:36pm
@Ali rest is assured, 1st kashmir resolved than books ok
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 03:43pm
eye wash act... they will sooner be out on bail or will make exit from back door.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 04:21pm
Nobody choses Kolkata, chennai, Bengaluru for such book lauches or artistic activities. Why Mumbai or Ahmedabad depite knowing the stance of Shiv sena. Are these pin pricks.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 04:22pm
@Ali
Such attacks take place even in those countries which are presently enjoying Veto powers. They donot represent the majority view in India.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 05:15pm
@Zubaida khan
China is not the founding member, it was Taiwan. China became permanent member by the generosity of the United States in 70s. By the way, India was offered this permanent membership in late 40s or early 50s, but our esteemed prime minister Nehru declined it and recommended China instead of. What a fool he was!
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 05:44pm
@Lala No justification. In a democracy, bad behavior will be punished sooner or later whether it comes from the people or their government.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 05:55pm
Really they think this is a non violent protest?? Shameful act
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 06:08pm
@Pakistani But then the book is written about india. The book can be marketed in two coutries most ... One is pakistan and the other is , where one fifth of human race are waiting to buy the book. Come on , have some business in mind, enough of war talks
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 06:14pm
Extremism will (also) ruin India.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 06:18pm
dear shivsena plz understand....in pakistan...literacy rat are very low (in asia)... even people are not interested to read school text book....than how can mr. kasuri launch their book in this kind of state....so pakistani authors need bigger market i.e Indian markets.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 06:19pm
In Kasuri saga somebody is lying. Indians and Pakistanis cannot trust each other and will never be friends.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:01pm
Its real shame on the face of democratic India.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:04pm
This is a disgrace to the Indian nation. Any group that suppresses free thinking ultimately wants the destruction of free society and democracy. But terrorists like Hafiz and Lakhvi responsible for orchestrating the Mumbai massacre are still roaming free in Pakistan - and this only adds fuel to the fire of anti-Pakistan propaganda within India that attempts to thwart all people-to-people contacts.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:14pm
@Zubaida khan : What is the point you are making? So if Japan as an imperial power had occupied China in early 20th century, China can run tanks on its citizens in late 21st century? It's amazing how Pakistanis take up on themselves the task of defending China! CPEC is already doing wonders!!
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:18pm
i wonder why indian support there terrorists shiv shena etc it should be ban.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:22pm
I am suspecting that this whole thing is staged by Mr Kulkarni. Looking at the video of this incident Mr Kulkarni was pretty cool, no panic.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:28pm
@Zubaida khan You can not decide what is terrorism and what is not. They follow their law. It is just ink. Could have been, would have been or should have been won't affect what law applies. It was probably considered a minor assault without causing serious injury and it was bailable offence, obviously cognizable (it does not appear Mr Kulkarni filed any report with the police) and so police arrested them and judge gave them bail. Most probably they will be fined and let off. Mr Kulkarni may have a civil action against them, though..
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:32pm
Shining India with narrow-mindedness - a true face of Indian community
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:36pm
@Kaka And then they raised 1.3 million Indian rupees to treat a girl from our county. Go figure!
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:46pm
Why this book could not be launched in Pakistan? One greedy Indian got the treatment he deserved?
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 07:56pm
The word peace is vanishing from the dictionary of the world ,it is becoming jungle world ,even animals thinking we are better off.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 08:02pm
@kk ; You poor little sick thing. Is this your come back to justify the bad behavior of hate mongers in India? I am sure you could have come back with something better. BTW, You should consider changing your screen name from KK to pseudo intellectual!
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 08:14pm
Sadly, no religion exists without extremists. India is not going to be left behind either.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 08:17pm
The Thackray clan needs to be locked up outside the state. A couple of weeks of involuntary sodomy in jail will fix their fascism.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 08:25pm
I see comments as if there is no intolerance in Pakistan !! come on guys let's be realistic. Had it been Pakistan, may be the guy would have been dead !
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 08:35pm
Sudheendra Kulkarni is one courageous man and as a Pakistani I salute to him. We need men and women like that on both sides of the border.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 09:06pm
Hatemonger Shiv Sena is a regional party who hates everybody except Hindu from Maharashtra. They do not believe freedom of speech.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 09:07pm
@altaf JUM and LET should also be banned.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 09:19pm
Mr Kasuri should thank Shiv Seniks for popularizing his book soon this book will be a best seller
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 09:28pm
India is a lawless country, with extremists everywhere.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2015 10:45pm
@ANT Same treatments are essential for Hafiz Sayed, and all such elements across the border.
Recommend
0
Oct 14, 2015 01:42am
The arrests are a sign of India's rule of law--however unwieldy it is!
Recommend
0
Oct 14, 2015 01:45am
@Ali : USA, UK, Russia and China are no better --than India! Pakistan exercises its unofficial Islamic veto in the UN!
Recommend
0
Oct 14, 2015 01:46am
@ALI RAZA : As usual, 19 Pakistanis salute you!
Recommend
0
Oct 14, 2015 05:45am
@Troll Kasuri did not go to Indian to degrade himself, it is your thoughts that degrade him. I hope it opens up minds in both countries that we have to be tolerant of each other and the right for freedom of speech, whether he/she is Indian or Pakistani.
Recommend
0
Oct 14, 2015 10:52am
Why do our people do book launch in India???
Recommend
0
Oct 15, 2015 02:13am
I really want to see what Shiv Sena folks look like ....just see not get any close to them.
Recommend
0
Oct 15, 2015 05:32am
@Angry Pitbull doubt it
Recommend
0
Oct 15, 2015 06:21am
@Ali Shiv Sena is not India as Talibans are not Pakistan, as regards veto power Pakistan can also aspire for the same we have no problem .
Recommend
0
Oct 15, 2015 07:18am
@Mr Universe don't buy.. No one I'd forcing you!!
Recommend
0
