Union Minister of State for Home Affair Kiren Rijiju on Monday condemned the ink attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni by the Shiv Sena, hours before the launch of a book of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, saying it was unjust to carry out violent forms of protest.
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"Every citizen of this country has got a right to protest. But, it should be done peacefully and in a manner that is according to the Constitution. Only then, can democracy move forward," Rijiju told media here.
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"Freedom to protest is provided to everyone, but, it should be done without any kind of physical violence. Law and order is a subject pertaining to the states, but, any foreigner, if he is not doing any harm to the nation and is just here to do a book launch, then incidents like these are not justified," he added.
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Following the attack, Kulkarni, who is the chairman of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), said he had no intention of scrapping the book launch.
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"The event is going to take place at 5.30 p.m. at the Nehru Centre in Mumbai, despite the threats we've received from the Shiv Sena," Kulkarni told the media.
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The Shiv Sena has described the launch of Kasuri's book as an insult to martyred Indian soldiers, and warned of severe repercussions if the event is not cancelled.
