Sudheendra Kulkarni, Kurshid Mahmud Kasuri to go ahead with book launch

An hour after former aide to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sudheendra Kulkarni was attacked by alleged Shiv Sena activists with black paint for organising a book launch of former Pakistan Former Foreign Minister Kurshid Mahmud Kasuri, both Kulkarni and Kasuri said that they would not be cowed down by such threats and would go ahead with the book launch.

"I experience my sadness and most upset with what I have seen, have not come here, to fight, but to bring a message of peace.. the ordinary people of India and Pakistan want peace. I want to share my story with India. - I know what political protest is and this is not the way for people to protest" said Kasuri adding, "If Kulkarni wants to cancel the book launch then he is free to do so, but I on my own will not cancel. I won’t let him down.” Kasuri was speaking to the media after a hurriedly called press conference in Mumbai after the ink attack on Kulkarni.

Kasuri said that there would be a ‘catastrophe’ if people to people contacts between India and Pakistan and back channel talks don’t happen.

Kulkarni who had not wiped out the black oil paint from his face and who was sitting beside Kasuri said, “ Against terrorism there would be no compromise but that does not mean that people from our country cannot go to Pakistan and people from Pakistan cannot come here. What the Sena has done today is an assault on democracy and our constitution.”said Kulkarni.

Kulkarni was attacked at Sion by six suspected Shiv Sainiks who dragged him out of his car, abused him and then dunked him in black oil paint. The Sena has said that if its cadres have done it then they are 'proud' of the 'nationalistic act'. Sion police have registered a case against 6 people.