Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri with Sudheendra Kulkarni at the book launch in Mumbai. (PTI photo)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today disapproved of Shiv Sena's protests against the launch of former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book in Mumbai. He said Sena's protests has brought disrepute to the state.
"We cannot endorse Mr Kasuri, but can't let our state turn into banana republic. The rule of law has prevailed. I think the way things have happened has brought a bad name to our state. There could have been better ways to put forth a point of view," he added.
He further said that one "may not agree with views of somebody, but when a foreign dignitary or a diplomat arrives on a valid visa and holds a programme, which is not illegal, it's the duty of a state to provide protection".
Despite Shiv Sena's protests and a paint attack on organiser Sudheendra Kulkarni, allegedly by some of its supporters, the launch of Mr Kasuri's book 'Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider's Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy', was held in Mumbai.