As Sena Marches to Shobhaa De’s Home, She Tweets Thanks to Mumbai Police

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, April 09, 2015:  Shiv Sena workers led a large protest outside the home of writer Shobhaa De today, inciting criticism from many including their ally, the BJP.  The Sena, which co-governs Maharashtra with the BJP, said Ms De has "no right to live in the state" because she has contested plans to make it mandatory for Mumbai multiplexes to screen a Marathi film every evening.

As the Sena approached her home, Ms De tweeted, "Police barricades are up ! I am feeling perfectly calm and safe ! Thank you, Mumbai Police."

It was her tweets on Wednesday that have enraged the Sena, a party that is easily offended. "No more pop corn at multiplexes in Mumbai? Dahi misal and vada pav only. To go better with the Marathi movies at prime time," Ms De had said. "An attack on Marathi culture is an insult to us. We will give her a taste of Vada Pav," said the party’s Sanjay Raut.

The police moved quickly to set up barricades outside Ms De’s apartment building in south Mumbai as the BJP made it clear that the Sena’s reaction is vastly inappropriate. "Everyone is entitled to a free and fair opinion," said the BJP’s Shaina NC, adding that issues like this should not be used "to hog the limelight." The BJP leader said, "We believe Maratha cinema must be encouraged...but the protest is not necessary."

This morning, an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece excoriated Ms De for suggesting that the government was indulging in bullying or "dadagiri" with cinema owners and movie-goers. "Had Chhatrapati Shivaji, in his time, and Balasaheb Thackeray not done ’dadagiri’, then your forefathers and her children would have been born in Pakistan and you would have been attending Page 3 parties in a burqa," the magazine said.

 

Courtesy: NDTV