Don’t air show featuring Pakistani artistes, MNS warns TV channel

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has once again threatened disruption of work at the studio of the television channel Colors if it goes ahead with its planned telecast of a reality show featuring Pakistani artistes. The show premieres on September 8. It has Asha Bhosle, Abida Parveen and Runa Laila as judges. While Himesh Reshammiya leads the team of Indian singers, Atif Aslam leads the Pakistani team.

Workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (MNCKS), the cine wing of the Raj Thackeray-led party, submitted a letter to the channel on Thursday warning them not to telecast the show recorded in Dubai. The party has also urged Bhosle, who has been featured in promotional clips, not to participate.

"We respect art but under the current circumstances we would not allow the show to be telecast. We have submitted a letter to them. We will disrupt recordings if they go ahead with the telecast," said president of the MNS cine wing, Amey Khopkar.

Khopkar argued that Pakistan was responsible for the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and claimed that the country's role is suspected in the recent Assam violence too, as well as its fallout in Maharashtra.

He claimed that Indian artistes are not treated well in Pakistan nor are Indian shows permitted there. He said, "Why should we allow Pakistani artistes to perform on Indian shows?"

Earlier Protests

Earlier this month, the MNS demanded that multiplexes including PVR slot Marathi films during prime shows.

In 2010, MNCKS protested against inclusion of Pakistani artiste Veena Mallik and TV personality Begum Nawazish on the popular show Bigg Boss. The Shiv Sena had also joined their protest against the two artistes.

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