Shobhaa De faces Sena ire for 'misal, vada pav' tweet

The Shiv Sena on Wednesday objected to columnist Shobhaa De’s tweet regarding Maharashtra government’s decision to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi films during the prime time slot, and sought to move a breach of privilege motion against her.

Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik, through point of propriety, in the legislative assembly said that the novelist had hurt the sentiments of the house which had whole-heartedly welcomed culture minister Vinod Tawde’s announcement that screening of Marathi films would be made mandatory during the prime time slot.

Similarly, the screening of a short film on Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, in theatres before start of a film was also a good move, he said.

Sarnaik said that in her tweet, De had remarked, “No more pop corn at multiplexes in Mumbai? Dahi misal and vada pav only. To go better with the Marathi movies at prime time.”

He then sought to move a breach of privilege motion against her.

Speaker Haribhau Bagde asked Sarnaik to submit the notice to him first.

Reacting to the issue, Shobhaa took to Twitter and said, “Now a privilege motion demanding an apology from me? Come on! I am a proud Maharashtrian and love Marathi films. Always have. Always will!”

In a controversial move, the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena state government on Tuesday decided to make it mandatory for multiplexes across the state to screen Marathi films during the prime time slot between 6 and 9 pm.

The decision will be implemented after amending the existing rules, Tawde had announced in the state assembly.