Thaindian News

Mumbai, Jan 29 (ANI): Shiv Sena Party on Friday issued a warning to Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan for supporting the selection of Pakistan players in Indian Premiere League (IPL) tournament.

Khan, also a franchisee of Kolkata Knight Riders cricket team in the IPL, had said he wished Pakistan cricketers were playing in the forthcoming edition of this cash-rich tournament.

Khan had made the statement on Wednesday, while promoting his upcoming film ‘My Name is Khan’ in India’s western Ahmedabad city.

Threatening with consequences, Shiv Sena spokesperson, Sanjay Raut, said, “If he has courage, let him take the players… Shahrukh Khan talks about Pakistani players, if he has courage let him take them, let them play, we will see what is to be done then.”

Raut also hit out against Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, franchisee of the Mumbai Indians team of the IPL, for his comment that Mumbai belongs to all Indians.

Admitting that Mumbai and Maharashtra are parts of the country, Raut said, the first right belonged to Maharashtrians, when it came to issues like employment.

“Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena or Shiv Sena chief have never said that Mumbai or Maharashtra do not belong to the country. We are responsible citizens of this country and Maharashtra is also a part of the country. But when it comes to employment or any such other issue, the first right belongs to the natives (of the city),” said Raut.

Ambani’s comments drew strong criticism from Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray who lashed out against the industrialist in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamna’.

Shiv Sena is known for its violent anti-immigrant rhetoric, and the stringent belief that Mumbai belongs to the ethnic Marathi community and not “outsiders”. (ANI)