MNS threatens Bigg Boss organizers, demand Tanushree Dutta not be allowed in

Actress Tanushree Dutta has alleged that the goons who attacked and damaged her car after she walked out of the sets of Horn Ok Pleassss in 2008 were members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Founded in 2006, MNS is a political party headed by Raj Thackeray.

While speaking to IANS, a news agency, yesterday (2 October), the actress compared the party with some dreaded terror organizations of the world.

“MNS is not just a party but an ideology like Al-Qaeda or ISIS. Their's is a violent, disruptive, communal, intolerant ideology and anyone from any profession can pledge allegiance to it,” she said.

In another interview with New Indian Express, an English daily, Dutta also took a dig at Thackeray. "Raj Thackeray is a goon and has got several like him in his party. A leader is one who protects the weak and not bullies them. A person who attacks women can’t be called a leader. The criminal minded leader wanted to replace [late] Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and he resorts to violence every now and then since he couldn’t get the position," she said.

This has, unsurprisingly, incensed the party workers. A few of them barged into the premises of the reality television show Bigg Boss in Lonavala and threatened the channel executives, demanding that the actress not be allowed to participate in the show.

The party members believe that the actress has come out with the allegations of sexual misconduct against Nana Patekar after 10 years just to get a chance to enter Bigg Boss.

In a video, broadcast by news channels, a party worker can be heard threatening a channel executive. “Our stand is clear. If she gets an entry over here, you would be responsible for what happens after that. She has spoken so dirty about such a leader. Do you think we will tolerate this? Our members hadn’t smashed her car [in 2008]. But this time we will do that [sic],” he said.

In a recent interview with ANI, Dutta, however, had hinted that she is not interested in entering the Bigg Boss show. “Do people not think beyond Bollywood and Bigg Boss?” she had asked, when pointed out that some believe she is trying to enter the show by making the accusations against Patekar, director Rakesh Sarang, producer Sami Siddiqui, and choreographer Ganesh Acharya.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police has given the actress 24-hour protection. Thanking them, she told Navbharat Times, a Marathi daily, "Amidst all this, the Mumbai police has reached out and offered their support. They have promised me 24-hours police protection and have posted their armed personnel around my home. I would like to thank the Mumbai police force for coming forward to protect me and helping me strengthen my resolve."