New Delhi: Former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri arrived in Mumbai on Sunday on the last leg of his book release tour of India, amid threats by the Shiv Sena to call off the plan and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headed state government promising him security.
“I have arrived in Mumbai just now. My Indian sponsor’s say we should not chicken before any threat by the Shiv Sena,” Mr Kasuri told this correspondent from his hotel. He is due to give a lecture sponsored by the Observer Research Foundation, which has the backing of the Reliance Group.
“There are some 20 security men guarding me. I’m leaving it all to Allah.”
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“After ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, Shiv Sena on Saturday asked management of a city-based convention centre here to call off Mr Kasuri’s book launch function,” the Times of India reported.
Citing Pakistan’s alleged support to terrorism as the reason behind the opposition, the Shiv Sena warned that the function would be disrupted if not cancelled.
Sena vibhag pramukh Ashish Chemburkar submitted a letter to director of Nehru Planetarium in Mumbai, demanding that the event be cancelled and organisers informed accordingly.
“The people at Nehru Planetarium where the event is scheduled, told us they will try to cancel it,” Chemburkar said.
“We have informed them that we will disrupt the event if it is not cancelled,” he said.
The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Mumbai, which is organising the event, on Friday approached Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking “adequate security” to Mr Kasuri after cancellation of Ghulam Ali’s concert in the city.
Mr Kasuri will launch the book ‘Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider’s Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy’, in Mumbai on Oct 12 at the Hall of Culture, Nehru Centre.
“Our purpose in organising this function is to make our own humble contribution to the much-needed normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. Kasuri’s widely appreciated book shows his strong commitment to peaceful and cooperative ties between our two countries,” ORF Chairman Sudheendra Kulkarni had said.
“The launch of the book will be accompanied by a panel discussion, in which the speakers are: AG Noorani, eminent jurist, historian and author; Naseeruddin Shah, renowned film and theatre personality; and Dileep Padgaonkar, eminent journalist and columnist,” Mr Kulkarni, who will moderate the talk, said.
During his stay in Mumbai between Oct 11 and 14, Mr Kasuri, besides attending the book launch function, will also visit Mani Bhavan and Jinnah House “if possible”, he said.
Mr Kasuri will also meet veteran movie star Dilip Kumar at his residence.
In a letter to Mr Fadnavis, Mr Kulkarni asked the state government to provide adequate and fool-proof security to Kasuri during his stay here.
Mr Kasuri’s programme in Delhi was earlier well attended by political leaders from several parties, including the BJP.
Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2015
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