Shiv Sena invokes Modi's past over his views on Ghulam Ali event cancellation

Mumbai, Oct 14: Stepping up its ante against the government after Narendra Modi termed as "unfortunate" the cancellation of Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena today invoked the Prime Minister's past saying he "is known and respected due to Godhra and Ahmedabad".

Sena MP Sanjay Raut termed as "unfortunate" Modi's views on cancellation of Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali's concert.

Modi had in an interview termed as "unfortunate" the

lynching incident and the cancellation of Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai, but said his government has nothing to do with them.

"If the Prime Minister has made such a statement (on Ghulam Ali), it is unfortunate," Raut said.

"The world knows Narendra Modi due to Godhra and Ahmedabad and we respect him for the same reason. If the same Narendra Modi has called the controversy surrounding Ghulam Ali and (former Pakistan minister) Khurshid Kasuri unfortunate, then it is indeed unfortunate for all of us," he said.

Raut, however, seconded Modi's views on the Dadri lynching and said the incident was "highly unfortunate and it should not have happened".

Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai was last week called off following threats from the Sena, despite a snub to it by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who said adequate protection would be provided to Ali and that the concert, organised in memory of late ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, would be held according to schedule.

The organisers of the event finally announced the cancellation after a meeting with Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

Later, the Sena threatened to stall former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book launch event in Mumbai and blackened the face of its organiser Sudheendra Kulkarni as a mark of protest.

PTI