NEW DELHI: The Shiv Sena on Wednesday described Sudheendra Kulkarni, who played host to Pakistan’s former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmd Kasuri, as a bigger threat to India than Ajmal Kasab who killed at will in the Mumbai terror attack.

Stung by criticism of the assault by Shiv Sena goons on Observer Research Foundation chief Mr Kulkarni, who was the host of Mr Kasuri’s book launch on Monday, the Sena wrote an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana.

Likening Mr Kulkarni to Ajmal Kasab, the edit said: “The real threat to the sovereignty of our nation is not from extremists or terrorists, but people like Kulkarni ... When there are people like him present here, Pakistan does not need to send people like Kasab for terrorist activities.”

Take a look: Shiv Sena assaults Kasuri’s host in Mumbai

“An atmosphere has been created where it now seems that Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri is a messenger of peace or a Mahatma and the Sena has committed a crime by opposing him. However much we are criticised and maligned, we will not change our stand against Pakistan,” it said.

Know more: Shiv Sena does not represent Indian people: Sudheendra Kulkarni

Sensing a possible confrontation with Sena ministers in his cabinet, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went to the extent of cancelling the scheduled cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning. While ‘technical problem’ was the reason officially cited by the CM’s Office for the cancellation, The Hindu said that the BJP wanted to avoid the possible confrontation between the ministers of both the parties after two big controversies — Mr Kasuri’s book launch event and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray skipping the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2015

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