Actress hits out at Sena-run BMC for move to demolish her office at Khar

Actress Kangana Ranaut’s outburst against Mumbai took a political turn on Monday, as Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday slammed the Centre for giving “Y-Plus” security cover to Kangana in view of “threatening statements” by some politicians from the State, even as the controversial actress hit out at the Shiv Sena-run Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for its move to demolish her office at Khar in north-west Mumbai.

On a day when the Ministry of Home Affairs’ decision to grant her “Y-Plus” security ahead of her much-publicised return on September 9, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said: “If the Centre gives ‘Y-Plus’ security to a person who insults Mumbai and Maharashtra, the matter is very serious, surprising and sad. Maharashtra does not only belong to the NCP, Shiv Sena or Congress but also belongs to the BJP and the people in the State. People in all political parties should condemn it if someone insults Maharashtra”.

Kangana has come under fire from various quarters for controversial statements comparing Mumbai to “Pak-Occupied Kashmir” and saying “it seems Mumbai is addicted to blood” and dubbing Bollywood as an ‘Islam-dominated’ film industry. There have also been protests erupted in Mumbai and other cities against the actress. Shiv Sena activists burnt her effigy and pictures in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Thane, Palghar, Nashik and other cities. On its part, the BJP too has distanced from Kangana’s “anti-Mumbai” comments.

Earlier on Monday, the Centre sanctioned ‘Y-plus’ security cover to Kangana, ahead of her return to Mumbai from Himachal Pradesh, where she has been away for quite some time now. Without losing any time, the actress took to Twitter to thank Union Home Minister Amit Shah for providing her ‘Y-plus’ security cover in view of “threatening statements” made by some politicians of Maharashtra.

“This proves that a patriot’s voice cannot be crushed by fascists. I am grateful to Amit Shah, if he wanted, he could have advised me to go to Mumbai after a few days but he respected a daughter of India, protected her pride and self-respect. Jai Hind,” Kangana said in a tweet put out in Hindi

Given that security personnel will be deployed for 24/7 in shifts, she will in all have 11 CRPF personnel in her security detail. These include five static guards and 6 commandos armed with automatic weapons, for her personal protection.

Meanwhile, hitting out at the ruling BJP at the Centre, Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed took to Twitter and urged Mumbaikars to “remember” this decision during next elections. “Someone who calls Mumbai as POK gets Y+ category security from the BJP Govt which includes 1 personal security officer & 11 armed policemen! Mumbaikars please remember this when you go to vote next time,” Shama tweeted.

Kangana has been widely criticised by the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance partners comprising Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress, and Opposition Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, slammed Kangana for her “questionable” remarks. There have also been protests erupted in Mumbai and other cities against the actress. On its part, the BJP too has distanced from Kangana’s “anti-Mumbai” comments.

Earlier in the day, she took to twitter to claim that the BMC officials were planning to demolish her office - Manikarnika Films, a movie production house in Mumbai’s Khar (West), on Tuesday. She alleged that the BMC officials had forcefully taken over my office... (and) harassing my neighbours”.

She pointed out that she had the required permissions and “nothing illegal (has been done) in my property”.

In one of the two tweets, combative Kangana said: “They ( BMC officials) have forcefully taken over my office measuring everything, also harassing my neighbours when they retorted @mybmc officials used language like , “?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????” I am informed tomorrow they are demolishing my property”.

“I have all the papers, BMC permissions, nothing has been done illegal in my property, BMC should send a structure plan to show the illegal construction with a notice, today they raided my place and without any notice tomorrow they are demolishing the entire structure,” she said in another tweet.

It remains to be seen as to how things will pan out on Tuesday and on the day of her return to the metropolis from Manali on September 9.