Threatening artists is 'pseudo nationalism': Brinda Karat on MNS

MNS's film wing has threatened Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt with 'a befitting response' if they release films featuring Pakistani artists

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Tuesday condemned the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) threat to film makers Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt for working with Pakistani artists and dubbed it as their brand of 'pseudo nationalism'.

"For them to attack soft targets like this (Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt) is pseudo nationalism; in fact, no nationalism at all, as it does not help the Indian cause," Karat told ANI.

"Anyone with any sense would condemn it because art and culture unites people. It helps to take the message of unity, brotherhood and fraternity across," she said, adding, "This is not in the interest of India. it shows the rest of the world the level of politics in India."

MNS's film wing on Monday threatened film makers Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt with 'a befitting response' if they work with or release films featuring Pakistani artists.

The film workers association of the Raj Thackeray-led party had recently set a 48-hour deadline for all Pakistani artists working in India to leave the country in the wake of the Uri attack.

This is not the first time Pakistan-based artists have been threatened by Mumbai's political parties.

Earlier, the Shiv Sena had told ghazal singer Ghulam Ali to cancel his performance in Mumbai. It had also opposed the hosting of a cricket match in the city between India and Pakistan during the T20 World Cup.

It also threatened to obstruct promotions of Pakistani actors Fawad Khan's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and Mahira Khan's 'Raees'.