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Shiv Sena protests outside Shobha De residence

by IBNS 09 Apr 2015, 12:08 am

Mumbai, Apr 9 (IBNS) Writer and columnist Shobhaa De on Thursday faced the protest of Shiv Sena whose activists marched to the area near her residence for her tweet against a recent order on compulsory screening of Marathi movies in theaters at prime hours.

Police, however, controlled the protesters and her house was cordoned off in advance. 

De tweeted thanking Mumbai Police.

"Well done, Mumbai Police. Thank you," she tweeted.

Earlier on Wednesday, a Shiv Sena MLA brought a privilege motion in Maharashtra Assembly  Shobha De for her criticism against chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought an apology from her.

De  had tweeted, "Devendra Fadnavis is at it again!!! From beef to movies. This is not the Maharashtra we all love! Nako!Nako! Yeh sab roko!I love Marathi movies. Let me decide when and where to watch them, Devendra Fadnavis. This is nothing but Dadagiri (sic)."

Reacting to the privilege motion, De said, "Now a privilege motion demanding an apology from me? Come on! I am a proud Maharashtrian and love Marathi films. Always have. Alwaays will!"

The controversy followed an order from the Maharashtra government making it mandatory for all multiplexes to screen Marathi movies at prime time.

  "We are in the process of enacting a law to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi films during prime time," Culture Minister Vinod Tawde said on Tuesday.

The decision has been supported by the BJP, which says it will promote Marathi cinema.

"It is the duty of Maharashtra government to encourage Marathi culture, a valid move to protect and thrive its language," BJP leader GVL Narasimha said.

Shobha De had said that the government should have consulted stakeholders before making screening of Marathi movies mandatory and had asked if the government is willing to give subsidy to multiplexes.