New Delhi, February 1
Rejecting Shiv Sena contention of ‘Mumbai for Maharashtrians’ as “pernicious thesis”, the Centre today said the financial capital belonged to all Indians who are free to live and work there.

On Sena threats to Australian and Pakistani players’ participation in the IPL cricket event in Mumbai, Home Minister P Chidambaram asserted that he would “guarantee them full security”. “We reject the thesis of the Shiv Sena. Mumbai belongs to all of India and all Indians are free to live and work in Mumbai,” he said answering a question at a press conference here.

He said the Government of Maharashtra was competent to handle the situation and the Centre would extend help if sought. “If the Government of Maharashtra seeks our advice, we will advise them but I am sure they are competent to manage the situation,” Chidambaram said. “But, as a matter of policy, we reject the theses of the Shiv Sena and the MNS. These are pernicious theses and they have to be rejected,” he said.

Shiv Sena had yesterday objected to the RSS view that Mumbai is for all Indians and told it that the western metropolis belongs to Marathi people only.

Asked about safety of Australian and Pakistani players’ participating in IPL, Chidambaram said, “Let Australian players come to India. Let Pakistani players come to India. Let them play in Mumbai and I will guarantee them full security.”

Sena had said its activists would not allow Australian players to play IPL matches in Maharashtra to protest the attacks on Indians in that country. The party has been opposing sporting ties with Pakistan contending that the neighbouring country has been supporting anti-India terrorists. — PTI