Sudheendra Kulkarni Addresses Media After Paint Attack: Highlights

Mumbai: Hours before the launch of former Pakistani minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book in Mumbai today, organizer Sudheendra Kulkarni was attacked with black paint by Shiv Sena cadres.

He later held a press conference along with Mr Kasuri.

Here are the highlights of what Mr Kulkarni said:

• Extend a warm welcome to Mr Kasuri
• We welcome you, and thank you for accepting our invitation
• You agreed to come to Mumbai despite threats
• Our original program was to have a media interaction with you as a prelude
• We have received threats from the Shiv Sena
• We have received threats that if we don't cancel our program today, they will disrupt the program in typical 'Sena style'
• But the book launch event will go on as scheduled despite the threats that we have received

Here are the highlights of what Mr Kasuri said:

• I am unhappy at what has happened today. I am very upset
• I have come to Mumbai where my father has studied and was imprisoned. I want to pay a tribute to Mumbai
• It is the commercial capital of India.  It is an inclusive city
• I recognise the right of people to protest and know what political opposition is
• I have understood that as long as it is peaceful, it is justified
• You have a right to protest, but what happened to Mr Kulkarni is beyond that
• I am not depressed by incidents like these. I know there are people in Pakistan and India who do not want good relations between the two nations
• But there is also an overwhelming majority of people in Pakistan who want good relations with India
• Strengthening of relationship between India and Pakistan will be in the interest of both the nations
• Neither was I a minister during Kargill and nor was I a minister during 26/11 attacks