Govt slams MNS stand on film

The Centre on Tuesday distanced itself from the row over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray asking filmmakers to donate Rs 5 crore to the army for casting Pakistani actors.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said any donation to the army is voluntary and he did not appreciate “catching anyone’s neck” to contribute.

His remark came after the Army authorities apparently expressed their uneasiness over Thackeray’s demand that Bollywood producers who have worked with Pakistani actors donate Rs 5 crore to the Army’s relief fund.

The row broke out after the MNS threatened to vandalise theatres if movies featuring Pakistani actors were screened.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said the government did not subscribe to the “wrong proposal” of Thackeray. 

“That is a wrong proposal and we don’t agree to it.”