Mumbai, Sep 23 (IANS): The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Friday gave a 48-hour ultimatum to all Pakistani cine and tele-artistes to quit India or face consequences.
MNS Chitrapat Sena chief Ameya Khopkar told the media that there was "an anti-Pakistan" wave across India after the September 18 terror attack that left 18 Indian soldiers dead at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The MNS calls upon all Pakistanis working in Indian tele-serials, films and other shows to leave the country within 48 hours. If they fail to do so, we shall deal with them in our style," Khopkar warned.
Among the Pakistani actors and singers known to be based in Mumbai or frequenting the city are Fawad Khan, Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Salman Ahmad, Mahira Khan and Ali Azmat.
MNS Vice President Shalini Thackeray said that wherever films or teleserials were being shot with Pakistani actors, MNS activists would go and stop them after the 48-hour deadline lapses.
"This is not a veiled threat… This is a direct challenge to producers like Karan Johar who promote Pakistani artistes. We are writing to all production houses asking them not to give work to Pakistani artistes," Thackeray said.
Another party Vice President, Vageesh Saraswat, said that in the past they had issued similar warnings and always stuck by them.
"Now, we have given them a specific time-bound deadline… Their countdown has begun… If they don't pack up and leave in 48 hours, we shall chase them away," Saraswat declared.
The party also warned they would not permit the release of any Bollywood films having Pakistani actors, including the upcoming "Aye Dil Hai Muskhil" and "Raees."
The MNS order would also apply to sportspersons and singers, he added.
In the past, the MNS and Shiv Sena have adopted an aggressive stance against Pakistani personalities visiting Maharashtra.
Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali's scheduled concerts were cancelled in Mumbai and Pune in October 2015 and a public engagement was also axed in January this year.