Exclusive: Devendra Fadnavis breaks his silence on Rs 5 crore 'mandavli'

Pontius Pilate meet Devendra Fadnavis The chief minister who had been hauled over the coals ever since he mediated a lsquotrucersquo between the aggrieved Film and Television Producers Guild and MNS chief Raj Thackeray over the release of Karan Joharrsquos Ae Dil Hai Mushkil ADHM has washed his hands of the ensuing controversy over the R5crore donation to the Army Welfare Fund mdash just like the biblical chieftain Pilate mdash laying all of the blame at Thackerayrsquos doorIn an exclusive chat with midday he clarified that it was Thackeray who had come up with the figure of R5 crore when the Guild offered to pass a resolution on contributions to the army welfare fund for future projects involving Pakistani artistesDistancing himself from the controversial deal that some including the Opposition and BJPrsquos ally Shiv Sena have likened to extortion Fadnavis said he did not force anyone to donate any sum of money Rather he claimed he specifically told the Guild that producers should not be compelled to cough up donationsCarrot and stickYoyoing between a hard line and a defensive stance the CM said his government isnrsquot scared of any party that threatens violence on the streets or warns the Hindi film industry against releasing movies featuring Pakistani artists ldquoI have a soft corner not for any political party or its leadership but for the people of the state What I did was in tune with the values of democracy in which we use dialogue to resolve issuesrdquo he said in defence of the much heckled compromiseThe CM said the state machinery is prepared to tackle all law and order situations referring to the now withdrawn agitation called by the MNS ldquoThe government is not scared of any party I donrsquot have a soft corner for any political party or its leader but I have a soft corner for the people of this state who want a peaceful life and festivalrdquoProducers asked for talksRubbishing allegations of having surrendered to the MNSrsquo hooliganism and using the Thackerayled party to score a point over the Sena Fadnavis said he had no political motive in brokering ldquoan amicable solutionrdquo ldquoThe Film Producers Guild approached me and asked for security to release a particular movie The Guild was worried about its overall business during Diwali The producers said the first week post release is crucial for any new film I assured them security but then the Guild also asked me to find an amicable solution The Guild suggested that I have a discussion with the people demanding a ban on movies starring Pakistani artistes This is how the said meeting happened in my presencerdquo the CM saidOffering a glimpse of how the compromise was reached at he said as the discussion progressed the Guild said it wanted to pass a resolution that producers who hire Pakistani artistes make a contribution to the army welfare fund ldquoIt was at this point of our deliberations that Raj Thackeray quoted a specific amount of R5 crore each I did not specify any amount but said that the contribution be voluntary and as per their the producersrsquo individual capacityrdquo he saidDevendra FadnavisMy critics frustratedOn why he invited a party that has been issuing illegal diktats and threats for talks he said discussion is the best form of democracy ldquoResolving issues through discussions is what our democracy demandsrdquoHe dubbed the people levelling allegations against him frustrated ldquoThey are frustrated because they wanted this issue to be turned into a law and order situation They did not want the subject the stalled release of ADHM and the threat of violence to die down so easily and quicklyrdquoTo Sena chief Uddhav Thackerayrsquos accusation that the deal was scripted and the sum demanded from producers amounted to extortion a Zenlike Fadnavis had just this to say ldquoLet them say what they sayrdquo