Panaji: Taking on his cousin and MNS leader Raj Thackeray for asking filmmakers to donate Rs 5 crore to the army for casting Pakistani actors, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the Indian armed forces do not need ransom money.
Controversy erupted after Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil ran into a storm of protests led by MNS because Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has a role in it. The film has been “allowed” to be released after its producers met with three conditions put forward by MNS chief Raj Thackeray, including payment of Rs. 5 crore to army welfare fund.
“Our army has self respect. It doesn’t need ransom money,” Thackeray told reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with rebel Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Subhash Velingkar. The Shiv Sena is likely to contest the assembly elections in alliance with the Goa Suraksha Manch, which is being mentored by Velingkar and other rebel RSS leaders and regional language protagonists.
“We had a healthy discussion and we share our positions on many issues, especially those related to regional languages, development, Hindutva, employment, good governance, among others,” Thackeray said.
Thackeray has been camping in the state since Saturday conducting meetings with party workers as well as potential alliance partners. The Shiv Sena manifesto for Goa will be finalised after Diwali, Thackeray said.
