Mumbai police promise security to Pakistani actors in India

Decision comes after Indian nationalist party gives Pakistani actors 48-hour ultimatum to leave country

As tensions between Pakistan and India continue to simmer, Mumbai police on Saturday said that Pakistani actors, who were given a warning to leave the country within 48 hours by India's nationalist party, will be provided security if required.

"All foreign nationals, who are in Mumbai on valid documents provided by the government of India, need not worry. We will provide adequate protection as and when required," Deven Bharti, joint commissioner of police, Mumbai said.



The film workers’ association of Indian nationalist party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Friday ‘ordered’ all Pakistani actors working in India to leave the country in 48 hours.

Further, Shalini Thackeray said if the artists continued to work in the city, "the MNS will stop their shoots mid-way. Moreover, the party activists will see to it that films starring Pakistani artistes are not released in Mumbai and in the state as well," Times of India reported.

“We gave a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India or the MNS will push them out,” The Indian Express quoted Amey Khopkar of the MNS Chitrapat Sena as having remarked.



Khopkar also threatened to assault Pakistani artists and those who cast them. “Pakistani artists will be beaten up and so will the producers and directors,” (Pakistani kalakaar toh maar khaayenge hi, saath mein jo yahan producer/director hain unko bhi peetenge), he said.

This article originally appeared on The Times of India