The Shiv Sena on Friday defended banning Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali from performing in Mumbai, saying what they had done was in true spirit of patriotism and slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for inviting the singer to perform in the national capital, accusing him of doing 'vote bank politics'.
Sena leader Sanjay Raut clarified that this was nothing personal and that they did not have any enmity with Ali.
"Our fight is with Pakistan, we do not have any enmity with Ghulam Ali. This is a patriotic sentiment and if Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee do not understand it, then it is unfortunate for them. They are doing vote bank politics through Ghulam Ali," Raut told ANI here.
The Sena mouthpiece Saamna in an editorial today said that banning Ali was their tribute to all the Indian soldiers, who had died in the recent ceasefire violations, and added that boycotting Pakistan in all forms was the only way to fight back.