Maharashtra CM comes to SRK's rescue

The Maharashtra government said on Saturday that it would ensure security for screening of movies of actor Shah Rukh Khan, under Shiv Sena threat for favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League, and asserted that it will act against anyone trying to "bully" others.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said violation of law and order by anybody will be dealt with strictly.

"All movies, be it of Shah Rukh's or anybody else's, if it is approved by the censor board, it will run and the government will protect it," Chavan told journalists at the sidelines of the chief ministers' conference on price rise here.

"Even I will go and watch those movies," he said.

"We will make sure that not only Shiv Sena, but any person or any organisation trying to create disturbance is dealt with strictly as per the law of the land," he said.

The chief minister was replying to a question related to controversy surrounding the movie star who is under attack by Shiv Sena for his remark on Pakistani cricketers.

The Sena has threatened not to allow the release of Khan's upcoming film My Name is Khan on February 12.

Against the backdrop of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's visit to Mumbai remaining free of any untoward incident despite Sena's call to show him black flags, he said, "I do not want to take credit. I am happy about one thing that they (Sena) understood it.

"I have said that the state will function as per constitution. The government will take action against anybody who tries to bully someone," Chavan said.