MNS president Raj Thackeray has written to the associations of the Indian film and television industry,saying that outsiders were misusing the partys name and harassing producers. Thackeray in the letter said,I have been receiving regular complaints from your associations that shoots are being disrupted and that you are being harassed by my party members on various pretexts. In some instances,some of my party people were perhaps involved,but in many,the people were not connected to my party. He also asked the association members to be careful while hiring foreigners without proper visas and work permits. Thackeray said,I request you to keep in mind the laws regarding the hiring of foreign actors. People hired without proper visas and work permits are a security threat to the state and country. Thackeray said he was an ardent film lover and had many close friends in the industry. There was no question of him supporting harassment to members of the industry or allowing anyone in the MNS to indulge in mindless behaviour,he said. I have earlier taken a stand on issues like Mumbai being referred to as Bombay,or when multiplexes have meted out shoddy treatment to Marathi films. I shall continue to do so personally,especially when I think that the pride of Maharashtra is compromised. Thackeray said his party has an official wing,Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Sena,which tackles the problems of makeup artists,lightmen,spot boys and others. The MNCS has 20,000 members. Thackeray said,Disregard any person who poses as a member of MNS or MNCS and demands money,and inform my personal assistant immediately. He also gave a list of names and phone numbers that the members of the industry could contact. mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
