'Too much importance' given to Kangana's PoK remark: NCP chief Sharad Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said that Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut's statement on "Mumbai feels like PoK" was given undue importance. His statement came after Ranaut waded into controversy after she recently likened Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said she feared the city Police more than the "movie mafia".
Pawar said the people of Maharashtra and Mumbai have "years of experience” of how the state and city’s police work. "They (people) know the performance of the police and its capabilities. And hence, we need not pay heed to what one says. If someone compares Mumbai with Pakistan or PoK then we should not take it seriously. Kangana's statement on Mumbai is given undue importance," the NCP chief said.
"There is no need to give more importance to such statements. Such statements do not matter to the common public. People do not pay attention to such things. There is absolutely no need to take them seriously. Rather my complaint is that the media is giving more attention to such news," Pawar was quoted as saying at a book release function.
BMC demolishes Kangana Ranaut's office
The Shiv Sena ruled BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) carried out a demolition drive at the office of Ranaut.
The move came as a political backlash over the ongoing war-of-words between Ranaut and Maharashtra ministers over her remarks. Ranaut took to Twitter and shared photographs of the demolition drive, which showed bulldozers outside the venue.
When asked about BMC demolishing the actress's office, Pawar told news agency ANI that if the authorities are acting as per the rules then it is right as unauthorised constructions are not new in Mumbai. "I don't have any information regarding her office. But I read in the newspapers that it was an unauthorised construction. However, unauthorised constructions are not new in Mumbai. If BMC is acting as per rules, then it is right."
Sharad Pawar meets Maharashtra CM
Pawar on Wednesday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's official residence in Mumbai. State minister and Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab was also present. According to sources, Pawar has advised Thackeray not to give too much weight to Kangana controversy.
Kangana reaches Mumbai
She reached Mumbai at about 3 pm on Wednesday. She was escorted out of the airport by personnel of Central security forces and Mumbai police and was provided security right from the tarmac.
Earlier, slamming Maharashtra politicians for criticising the remarks, Ranaut said, "I have lived the courage, valour and sacrifice of Rani Laxmibai through the film. It’s sad that I am being prevented from coming to my own Maharashtra. I will follow the footsteps of Rani Laxmibai and will not get scared or bow down. I will continue to raise my voice against wrong, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Shivaji.”
