Sena protests outside Shobhaa De home

Mumbai, April 9:

The Shiv Sena staged a noisy protest on Thursday outside celebrity author Shobhaa De’s residence, after she attacked a move to force multiplexes to show Marathi movies in the prime time slot.

Carrying banners as well as ‘vada-pav’ and ‘misal’, the Sainkis shouted slogans against De.

The protesters condemned De’s comments opposing the Bharatiya Janata Party-Sena government’s diktat to all multiplexes in Maharashtra to daily exhibit Marathi movies between 6 and 9 p.m.

Police personnel deployed in large numbers outside De’s residence in the upmarket Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai prevented the Sainiks from entering the building premises.

De told journalists that she was overwhelmed by the support she received for her tweets on the social media and elsewhere.

On the protests, she said she was not at all worried.

“I have full faith in Mumbai Police… Police barricades are up… I am feeling perfectly calm and safe… Thank You, Mumbai Police.

“I will not be a party to this sort of politics. I will take legal advice and take action as per the law,” she later tweeted.

Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik has sought an apology and moved a notice for breach of privilege in the assembly.

Sarnaik accused De of “insulting the chief minister (Devendra Fadnavis) and the people of the state”.

De on Wednesday tweeted: “Now a privilege motion demanding an apology from me? Come on! I am a proud Maharashtrian and love Marathi films. Always have. Always will!”

“No more pop corn at multiplexes in Mumbai? Dahi missal and vada pav only. To go better with the Marathi movies at prime time,” De later tweeted.

On April 7, De’s tweets were: “Devendra Fadnavis is at it again!!! From beef to movies. This is not the Maharashtra we all love! Nako! Nako! Yeh sab roko! I love Marathi movies. Let me decide when and where to watch them, Devendra Fadnavis. This is nothing but Dadagiri.” (IANS)