Mumbai:
Hours before the launch of former Pakistani minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book in Mumbai today, organizer Sudheendra Kulkarni was attacked with black paint by Shiv Sena cadres.
He later held a press conference along with Mr Kasuri.
Here are the highlights of what Mr Kulkarni said:- Extend a warm welcome to Mr Kasuri
- We welcome you, and thank you for accepting our invitation
- You agreed to come to Mumbai despite threats
- Our original program was to have a media interaction with you as a prelude
- We have received threats from the Shiv Sena
- We have received threats that if we don't cancel our program today, they will disrupt the program in typical 'Sena style'
- But the book launch event will go on as scheduled despite the threats that we have received
Here are the highlights of what Mr Kasuri said:- I am unhappy at what has happened today. I am very upset
- I have come to Mumbai where my father has studied and was imprisoned. I want to pay a tribute to Mumbai
- It is the commercial capital of India. It is an inclusive city
- I recognise the right of people to protest and know what political opposition is
- I have understood that as long as it is peaceful, it is justified
- You have a right to protest, but what happened to Mr Kulkarni is beyond that
- I am not depressed by incidents like these. I know there are people in Pakistan and India who do not want good relations between the two nations
- But there is also an overwhelming majority of people in Pakistan who want good relations with India
- Strengthening of relationship between India and Pakistan will be in the interest of both the nations
- Neither was I a minister during Kargill and nor was I a minister during 26/11 attacks