Kulkarni worse than Kasab, says Shiv Sena

E-Paper | July 25, 2026

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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NIKHILMALI

Oct 15, 2015 07:31am

I don't know why but shivsena have lot of ground level support in Maharashtra

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imran khan

Oct 15, 2015 07:32am

india is fast on the track of regression. thanks to groups like sena and RSS

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Naveed

Oct 15, 2015 07:40am

Nathuram Godse who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi was ultra nationalist Hindu, so we can see clearly see the Fascist mentality of these extremist. What RSS is doing in India is no different from what ISIS is doing in the Levant.

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thinkaboutit...

Oct 15, 2015 07:43am

I may despise the actions of Shiv Sena, but their displeasure of having 'the' FM of Pakistan in their country, who had spent his entire career working against India, is not all that not understandable. However, I'm still not at peace with a Pakistani FM going to (of all the places) India for such. Maybe it's money...or maybe he didn't find any buyers here ! ?

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Ashfaq

Oct 15, 2015 08:09am

I thinks it's clear from comments posted that Indians won't allow Shiv Sena to paint themselves as the voice of all Indians. If Shiv Sena have an issue with Modi Government issuing visas to Pakistanis the they should take it up with Modi sarkar. Mob justice should not be allowed anywhere

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Sujoy

Oct 15, 2015 08:20am

Please note that we Indians even don't take Sena seriously in the context of national politics...don't make hype on them...cultural exchanges and sports should be out of the political agenda...

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vallabhbhai

Oct 15, 2015 08:30am

The likes of kulkarni should get their priorities right.Political or diplomatic correctness should not undermine the national interest.These people have not lost their children in Mumbai mayhem or at the borders.Our response to the mischief from the western border has been insufficient and inappropriate.Pakistan will encash such snobbery.

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irfan farooqui

Oct 15, 2015 08:37am

When Indian govt would take any serious step against such extremist elements....

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manoj

Oct 15, 2015 08:39am

its true

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manoj

Oct 15, 2015 08:40am

any commercial interest against nation interest is very bad..agree with Shiv Sena

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Pakistani

Oct 15, 2015 09:01am

This statement of Shive Sena is worst than ever read. Never heard or read Shive Sena contributed anything good to India but bad name and bad image of India in the world.

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commentater

Oct 15, 2015 09:29am

I salute Kulkarni. He showed alot of courage. Only in India one can such a brave gesture of political courage.

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Valar Morgulis

Oct 15, 2015 09:42am

Shiv Sena needs to be recognized as a well accepted school of thought by Indians. Denying and devaluing their presence won't serve any purpose.

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Zombie

Oct 15, 2015 09:47am

Get over it... All Indian news channels condemning this along with all the other political parties in India. It's not like they blackened Kasuri's face.

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Ahmad

Oct 15, 2015 09:50am

@irfan farooqui Never. No matter how hard Indians defend or whatever their reasons are, India is getting polarized with each passing day. India is fast leaving its centuries old traditions and culture of peace, inclusiveness, harmony and tolerance.

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Yet another Indian sri1

Oct 15, 2015 09:58am

@NIKHILMALI "I don't know why but shivsena have lot of ground level support in Maharashtra" The Shiv Sena has only support of Mahashtrians in urban centers like Mumbai and Nashik, the unfortunately are the richest in the state (like Karachi and MQM). But the SS has been losing this support when people are getting more educated and everyone realizes that they are only hot air - with their obstructionist policies they cannot get any real development done in their strongholds themselves. And that is why this sulky struggle of regional or Hindutva or anti-Pakistan oneupmanship with the BJP. Mark my words, the BJP will part ways with the SS soon.

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Zedex

Oct 15, 2015 09:58am

Shivsena has a point if view. Right or wrong depends on who is looking at it. Not allowing book launch is uncivilized behavior but then their are millions supporting it, including the families who lost their dear ones in Mumbai carnage and widows of dozens of soldiers and paramilitary troopers killed on border and Kashmir

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Yuva

Oct 15, 2015 09:59am

@irfan farooqui why should we take action. Sena is speaking for the people who were affected by Mumbai attack

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raghu

Oct 15, 2015 10:14am

Sena plays its politics close to the ground ,kasuri is a reasonable person so the target was maverick Kulkarni politically well thought out act on sena's part. raghu

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aamir

Oct 15, 2015 10:19am

India and Pakistan share same history with similar problems yet enemies of each other since the day first; I just wish they could change themselves before the last day we would no more be counted as sovereign and respectable countries.

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sandeep

Oct 15, 2015 10:21am

@Valar Morgulis please dont jump on your sarcatic views. we as a developing secular nation are doing as much as can to protect minorities in india and this one or two incidents cannot dent our attitude. It is humble request that instead of worring cross border problems it would be nice that one should get his house in order first.

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Saad Razzaq

Oct 15, 2015 10:23am

So far only few comments on this piece and majority agree with Manoj who says its true. This shows the mentality and hostility against Pakistan. We have few good Indians who wanted peace and follow Gandhi but majority believes in confrontation and showing might against Pakistan. I am not saying nothing wrong with Pakistan but we have to give peace a chance and oppose the extremism otherwise shiv sena and LTT will prevail in the region.

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mrunal

Oct 15, 2015 10:29am

Birds of a feather flock together! Shiv Sena and BJP share an alliance government in Maharashtra whose capital today is Mumbai!

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raj

Oct 15, 2015 10:44am

I have one question' why pakistanis r coming to india for such activity?? Actors, singers, cricketers and writers r coming to earn easy money and popularity bcoz its not possible in pakistan. On the pretext of earning, many of them r involved in hawala rackets with the support of kukkarni like people in india.

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Observer

Oct 15, 2015 10:54am

@Naveed , Sorry but process is too slow and procedure is too mild in case of RSS in comparison to ISIS. To come at par with ISIS, RSS needs to change itself a lot. Currently, you can compare it with religious groups of Pakistan but nothing in this world can be compared to ISIS activities.

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Ahmed

Oct 15, 2015 11:00am

"The real threat to the sovereignty of our nation is not from extremists or terrorists, but people like Kulkarni .." I can remember one Faisal Qureshi saying something like this in Pakistan too. Funny how war mongers on both side think alike.

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N.Sid

Oct 15, 2015 11:03am

The fight is between the hindutva Bharat and the secular India...they should leave Pakistan out of this contest...though it serves as a common denominator of hate, love to hate ideologue in India. Shiv Sena is against anyone and anything non Marathi, its just that they use anti Pakistan card for there constituency politics and it does sells...nothing sells like hate in India these days.

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A Chowdhury

Oct 15, 2015 11:11am

@Naveed - Please read Why I killed Gandhi before commenting. Nathuram was very dear to Gandhi and vice versa.

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XYZ-Indian

Oct 15, 2015 11:12am

The picture tells lots of story, There are more Indians who stand on democratic and secular value than few stupid, I respect both the Kulkarni and Kasuri to stand tall. Also thank BJP govt to stand against Siv Sena, which other govt did not do.

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Bishamber lal

Oct 15, 2015 11:17am

I like and appriciate the action of SHIV SENA. It is good for patriotism.

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Sanjoy Sank ar Guha

Oct 15, 2015 11:20am

Though the Shiv Sena enjoys only limited popularity, judging by the mood of the nation I would not be surprised if many others subscribe to this kind of a view.

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Siddhartha

Oct 15, 2015 11:24am

India has Shiv Sena and also people like Kulkarni. Writers like Nayantara who returned the Shaitya Academy Award and civil society who raised their voices against BJP and RSS. So, Hindutva has to take the back seat.

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Prakash Puthalath

Oct 15, 2015 11:43am

Shiva Sena is a dying organization. They don't represent India, not even 1% of the population support them, that too mostly slum dwellers. Even BJP has issue with them.

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Vijay Dinanath

Oct 15, 2015 11:54am

@Sujoy I partially agree with your point but cultural activities and sporting ties should be allowed only after Pakistan allows economic activities.

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Sid

Oct 15, 2015 12:13pm

@Naveed RSS is doing it in their own country. Not someone else's. That's one difference right there. RSS does not bomb public places, because it's their own country. That's another difference. RSS sent hundreds of men and relief material during the South Asian Tsunami, Uttarakhand Floods, Nepal earthquake. That's the third difference. Shiv Sena is not RSS. Just FYI.

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Satt

Oct 15, 2015 12:16pm

After this Shiv Sena drama,one thing is clear,now government at center will be careful to whom it should permit visa.

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Sudhanshu Swami

Oct 15, 2015 12:21pm

This kulkarni episode is really nice. Pakistani commenters are blindly opposing RSS-BJP. Funny thing is that they are not even reading, not even realizing that it is Shiv sena which is creating issue, while BJP and RSS are in indirectly in support of Kulkarni. Pakistani blaming RSS for this is really joyful to read.

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Komal S

Oct 15, 2015 12:35pm

It is important to note that if Congress were in power in Maharashtra, this event would have been cancelled. It is a shame that Shiv Sena did this. But Mr. Kulkarni knew what was going to happen, no wonder he wore the Indian flag. Also if you look at the video he went alone to the car. He exactly knew the plot and derived the maximum out of this situation. Ultimately Mr. Kasuri and Mr. Kulkarni came out winners. The tar was on Shiv Sena face instead.

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santosh

Oct 15, 2015 02:24pm

I don't like shiv sena act but not impressed by kulkarni either. Why he chosen Mumbai only, where chances of such unwanted incident will more. I think they wanted publicity and they got.

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Taimoor Khan

Oct 15, 2015 02:38pm

The way Indians bring Mumbai in every issue is becoming quite of nuisance. Pakistan had many of such Mumbai's against its citizens in which India was involved. To name few, Samjhota express and the APS Peshawar attack. Fear the day, when Pakistan start to take a stubborn and non flinching stance over these terrorist acts against India.

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ABCD

Oct 15, 2015 02:45pm

I find substance in their defense.

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Hari Har

Oct 15, 2015 03:24pm

Yesterday I watched a clip of an interview of Ex Foreign Minister Mr Kasuri with Arnab Goswami, Chief Editor of Times of India. This clip was part of a debate where Mr Sudhendra Kulkarni was also present on panel. This short clip showed how derisively Ex Minister's staff conducted themselves. It came to be as a rude shock. I can now believe that the real center of power in Pakistan is the Army.

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Avijit Roy

Oct 15, 2015 03:40pm

I agree with the Sena that the likes of Kulkarni are worse threat to India than Kasav.

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Mr Universe

Oct 15, 2015 03:46pm

Let me confirm all those Kulkarni sympathizers that this man has started his political career as a communist during during his tenure as student in IIT Bombay. Later, as communist leader he worked with various trade unions but failed to fulfill his political ambition. Then he joined BJP. Extreme left to extreme right and rose to adviser of Advani and Vajpayee. However, he left BJP with the rise of Modi and fall of his master Advani. He is an opportunist to the core...

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Dipak Singh

Oct 15, 2015 03:56pm

@Mr Universe Exactly.

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Seine

Oct 15, 2015 04:05pm

Good joke shiv sena!

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Montague

Oct 15, 2015 04:07pm

@Sujoy your modi came in power riding on the shoulders of RSS, how can you deny their presence?

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Nation

Oct 15, 2015 04:43pm

Though not agreeing with what Shiv Sena has done but definitely they have a point. The people who have lost their near and dear ones in the Mumbal blast and border can only understand the pain. Mr. Khurshid was FM for a long time and have never wasted a chance to bad mouth against India on international forum. Instead of launching his book here he could have used his contact to develop the relationship. Singer, Players, writers, actors come from Pakistan to India, earn here but don't use their clout on their country back to normalise the relations. They never visit to the borders and influence the military to stop cross border firing. But they never do atleast a charity show for the family those who have lost their near and dear ones. Mind it they come here only to earn money and nothing else. The Shive Sena's anger was absolutely correct and desired. Yes I also agree that they should have protested in a more democratic way instead of blackening his face.

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BOND

Oct 15, 2015 05:39pm

frankly speaking it is more local politics than international one ....its between sena and bjp

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Oct 17, 2015 06:28am

@imran khan - India is fast on the track of regression. thanks to groups like Sena, RSS, and BJP

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Oct 17, 2015 06:29am

@thinkaboutit... So what is the problem????

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Oct 17, 2015 06:37am

@Sudhanshu Swami - "This kulkarni episode is really nice. Pakistani commenters are blindly opposing RSS-BJP. Funny thing is that they are not even reading, not even realizing that it is Shiv sena which is creating issue, while BJP and RSS are in indirectly in support of Kulkarni. Pakistani blaming RSS for this is really joyful to read." It's not funny at all, because since Modi there is a uproar against Pakistan on everyday basis and hatred against Muslims in India. So refrain yourself from biased comments the whole world is watching, the game of sher ayaa sher ayaa is over now.

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Bravo

Oct 17, 2015 08:33am

Extremism,fanatics,no matter on either side,must be condemn,controlled,and contained, to certain limit.And this was exercised in the recent event of Kasuri book launching .Both India and Pakistan must keep a watch on such elements ,and devise pre-emptive measures to contain them before they do any damage.If such steps are taken,together with trust building gradually everything will be OK ,and two neighbors could live in harmony.

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