BJP not with Shiv Sena on MNIK issue: Nitin Gadkari

BJP president Nitin Gadkari today said his party is not supporting its ally in Maharashtra Shiv Sena in its protests against the release of Shah Rukh Khan's starrer My Name Is Khan.

"We are definitely not with Sena on this issue. We are two different parties," he said in reply to questions on the issue at a meet-the-press here.

He also said his party does not agree with the Sena slogan that Mumbai is for Mumbaikars. "We believe that Mumbai is for all Indians. We believe in unity in diversity."

However, Gadkari dared the Congress and the Left to proclaim that Srinagar was also open to all Indians like Mumbai. As long as Article 370 was in force, Indians from other parts cannot not buy land and live there, he said.

On the assault of Sriram Sene chief Pramod Mutalik in Bangalore yesterday, he said the BJP had no direct or indirect connection with the outfit. However, he said it was not proper for anybody to take law into their hands anywhere.

To a question on his description of Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar as "cricket minister", Gadkari said Pawar was always engaged in cricket. "Let him play cricket, but let him not play with the lives of people," he said alluding to price rise affecting common man.

Gadkari said West Bengal government's move to introduce 10% quota for Muslims was part of vote bank politics for exploitation. BJP was not against minorities but was against terrorism, he said.