Kasuri says there is need for positive mindset, flays attack

Flaying the ink attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni for not bowing down to Shiv Sena's diktat, former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri today said he is not depressed by such things as there are people on both sides who don't want good ties between India and Pakistan.

He said people have the right to protest but what happened with Kulkarni was not protest. "I recognise people's right to protest, but what has happened with Sudheendra Kulkarni is not protest," he said.

"Nations are made with a positive mindset, we need a positive mindset," he said addressing a joint press conference with ORF chairman Kulkarni, organiser of the book launch event, shortly after the latter faced an ink attack outside his home here this morning.

"I am not depressed by things like these as I know there are people in Pakistan and India who do not want good relations between the two nations. I have been a political worker myself, I understand political protests, but it should be in a peaceful manner," he said.

Kasuri, who has been facing wrath of Sena which has opposed his book launch function, said that he was not a minister during the Kargil war or the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

"I was not a minister during Kargil or 26/11," Kasuri told reporters here replying to a query.

"Pakistan government had arrested Hafeez Saeed but it was the court which granted him bail," he said.

On the occasion, Kulkarni said, "Despite Ghulam Ali's concert being cancelled, Kasuri has come for the book launch and I welcome him."

The Shiv Sena had demanded that the event be scrapped and had threatened to disrupt it.

Reacting to the ink attack on Kulkarni, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said "smearing ink is a very mild form of democratic protest."

"We don't know if ink or tar was smeared. Nobody can foretell how public anger will explode," Raut said.

Kulkarni had met Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence 'Matoshree' here late last night, but left without getting any assurance from him.

He had earlier also said that the event will go on as planned as Maharashtra's Home Department, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has assured him full security.

The Shiv Sena had earlier threatened to disrupt Ghulam Ali's concerts, leading to cancellation of the Pakistani ghazal singer's events in Mumbai and Pune.