Veterans Slam MNS Over Forced Donations to Army Welfare Fund

The MNS has asked the film-makers of ADHM to pay Rs 5 crore as “penance” for casting Pak actor Fawad Khan.

Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the poster of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. (Photo courtesy: Twitter/@DharmaMovies)

The controversy over Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil took a new turn when the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) demanded Rs 5 crore from makers casting Pakistani artists in their films as a “penance’’. The money, as per MNS, should be contributed as a donation to the Army welfare fund.

However, the army is not pleased with this demand of the MNS.

Many serving and retired army officers while talking to the Hindustan Times expressed their displeasure over politics being done by dragging army into the issue. They said that the army is an apolitical and secular organisation and its image should not be tarnished to score political goals.

Retired Air Vice Marshal of the IAF took to twitter to express his displeasure,

He was not alone. Others shared the same sentiment,

MNS chief Raj Thackeray called off protest after the makers agreed to pay the amount. (Photo: Reuters)

Also Read: Stand-off Over, ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ to Release as Per Schedule

Former northern army commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal talking to Hindustan Times said:

The army doesn’t go around begging for funds. If a film producer wants to donate, he can do it like any other Indian citizen. But it’s unacceptable in such a manner. Let’s keep the army out of politics. We have stayed that way and would like to stay that way.

Karan Johar released a video a few days before to appeal for the movie’s peaceful release. (Photo: Koffee With Karan publicity still)

After a number of hurdles, Karan Johar’s movie is finally ready for a Diwali release after MNS Chief Raj Thackeray rolled back his threat to stall its release. The climb-down however, only came after an assurance from the maker’s that a part of film’s profit would go in the Army fund.

The MNS’ conditions were accepted in a meeting between filmmaker Karan Johar, Producers Guild of India president Mukesh Bhatt and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday.

Also Read: Rajnath Assures Support for the Release of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’

The Sena had begun its protest after tension between India and Pakistan escalated following surgical strikes and ceasefire violations on the border.

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Representational image of Indian Army personnel. (Photo: AP)

Kargil war hero Brigadier Khushal Thakur (retd) said national sentiments should not be exploited like this. “If something is wrong, it is wrong. How can a forced donation of Rs 5 crore make it right? But the bottomline is the army’s name should not be misused for political gain,” he said, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Many other army officers and civilians on social media termed it as extortion.

The army recently opened an Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties bank account for families of battle casualties after several organisations and individuals approached the defence ministry with contributions. The army however maintains that all donations should be voluntary.

Also Read: MNS To Continue Protest Against ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and ‘Raees’

(With inputs from Hindustan Times)