MNIK fell prey to turf war within Sena clan: Congress

Congress claimed that MNIK had become an unwitting casualty of the war within the Thackeray clan for domination over Mumbai.

By TNN | Feb 13, 2010, 11.18 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday assailed the Shiv Sena's attempt to disrupt screening of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name is Khan and claimed that the film had become an unwitting casualty of the war within the Thackeray clan for domination over Mumbai.

"Unfortunately the movie fell prey to the intense proxy war between the two family factions for the convoluted legacy of Bal Thackeray," party spokesperson Manish Tiwari told reporters.

He, however, said that whatever their motives, the Sena groups could in no way be allowed to hold the film hostage. He called upon the Congress-led Maharashtra government to firmly put its foot down and account for the Sena attempt to rule Mumbai streets.

"We expect the Maharashtra government to enforce the rule of law by measuring up to the Sena hooliganism," Tiwari said.

With this statement, Congress clearly sent a message to Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan to get tough with the Sena. "The brand of hate mongering being demonstrated by the Sena over the past three decades is an antithesis to the liberal and pluralistic values which invest our constitutional ethos," the spokesperson said.

Start a SIP with as low as ₹500 with ET Money App!