Sena MPs return security to protest Chavan's remarks

Amid a raging row over the screening of 'My Name is Khan', Shiv Sena Members of Parliament today decided to return their security to protest Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan's threat to remove security cover provided to the party's executive chief Uddhav Thackeray.

"We have already returned the security cover since this morning," party leader Sanjay Raut, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, told PTI.

He said that letters have been written by party leaders to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari in this regard.

Condemning the CM's statement that he would withdraw the Z-plus security cover to Uddhav, Raut alleged that the remarks were 'irresponsible' in view of the fact that their leader faced threats from 'terrorists and traitors.'

Reports from Mumbai had it that Chavan warned Shiv Sena that if they did not allow smooth screening of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer film, then he would withdraw the security cover of Uddhav.

The Sena has resorted to violent protests to stop the screening of MINK in Mumbai to protest Khan's remarks supporting inclusion of Pakistani players in Indian Premier League.