Shouting anti-Pakistan slogans, dozens of Shiv Sena activists on Tuesday disrupted the press conference of a Pakistani Sufi music band at the Mumbai Press Club.
Carrying saffron party flags and chanting “Pakistanis go back” and “Vande Mataram”, alleged Sena workers forced their way into the conference hall, heckled the artistes of ‘Mekaal Hasan Band’ and overturned chairs when they were in the middle of a media briefing.
Swinging into action, police managed to evict the protesters and the entrance to the club was shut.
Mekaal Hasan, band leader of Pakistani band, said that it is very unfortunate for something like this to happen. We spread music and peace…If India will ask us to perform, we will definitely perform.
The additional police commissioner, Krishna Prakash, said that around 15-20 people have been detained. We arrived here on time and ensured that no one is attacked. We will investigate and then only it will be clear that who had asked them to do so.
President of the club Gurbir Singh said he has approached state’s Home Minister R R Patil and Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sadanand Date who have assured deployment of additional police force at the venue.
Singh deplored the incident, saying efforts to improve Indo-Pak relations should be welcomed and not thwarted.
Shiv Sena has been opposing participation of Pakistani artists in events in India for quite a long time.
It had protested against the inclusion of Pakistani television host and cross dresser Begum Nawazish Ali and actor Veena Malik in Bigg Boss show in 2010 and disrupted a Sindhi Sufi music festival in Delhi last year where artists from the neighbouring country were present.
