India’s Observer Research Foundation Chairman Sudheendra Kulkarni will address a round table discussion – arranged by the Pakistan Forum — on Pakistan-India relations here on Monday (today).
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, who is also Chairman of the Pakistan Forum, will preside over the function. Kulkarni was a close confidante and adviser to India’s former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and is considered very close to former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani.
Kulkarni remained closely involved with the Pak-India dialogue during Vajpayee’s tenure. He is a strong defender of the rights of Muslims and other minorities in India and has often faced the wrath of extremists. A large number of diplomats, retired military officers, journalists, intellectuals, educationists and civil society activists will participate in the discussion.
It is pertinent to mention here that when Kasuri was in Delhi in 2015 in connection with the launch of his book – Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove, the Shiv Sena group warned the Pakistani guest not to land in Mumbai to launch his book there on the invitation of Kulkarni or he would have to face the consequences.
They also threatened Kulkarni who had invited Kasuri on behalf of the Observer Research Foundation to launch his book in Mumbai to cancel the invitation. Kulkarni refused to succumb to the Sena’s warnings. When Kasuri landed at the Mumbai airport, it was surrounded on all sides by Shiv Sena’s workers. However, he managed to leave the airport due to heavy police protection.
Then the Shiv Sena decided to vent its anger at Kulkarni and attacked him at his residence, beat him up mercilessly, and plastered black paint on his face. Despite this, Kulkarni decided to go ahead with the book launch in the evening with his face painted black. The picture became iconic at that time and created a sensation not just in India but worldwide leading to wide spread condemnation.
The incident provided the incentive to civil society in India to react to such tactics and a large number of Indian academics, historians, artists, scientists and celebrities decided to return their awards. This is Kulkarni’s first visit to Lahore after the Mumbai incident.