Thackeray earlier had urged MCA to lift 5-year ban on the actor as he believes that behaviour of the association was "childish". Commenting on the controversy regarding Shahrukh Khan and the ban, Thackeray was quoted as saying, "Whatever happened last time happened. It's childish to hang on to it. Is he a terrorist, that you won't allow him to come back... and let him watch the match?"
Despite Thackeray's demand, MCA did not lift the ban and did not allow the actor and owner of KKR to enter into the stadium. MCA had imposed the ban following a brawl between Shahrukh Khan and a security guard of Wankhede stadium during another IPL match in 2012.
However, the actor apologized in public and regretted his act. Recently he was quoted as saying, "This is very awkward... I don't know what I'm supposed to do... Actually, I'm going to say something politically incorrect. If I do enter the stadium what will they do... shoot me?"
Earlier Maharashtra Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant also had defended the actor saying, "It is not the question of Shahrukh Khan as an actor, but of any citizen - a ban is not a democratic punishment, especially when the person has apologized."
OneIndia News