Maharashtra Congress asks MCA to lift Wankhede ban on SRK

Mumbai –  The Maharashtra Congress Tuesday rushed to the aid of  Shah Rukh Khan who has been banned by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for five years from entering Wankhede Stadium.

Shah Rukh-owned Kolkata Knight Riders and the Mumbai Indians are set to face off at the Wankhede here today and the star actor is all set to miss the clash.

State Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant appealed to MCA to lift the five-year ban imposed on Shah Rukh from entering and viewing cricket matches in Wankhede Stadium in view of his ‘misbehaviour’ during last year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

In a letter to MCA president Ravi Sawant, Sachin said: “After (Khan) publicly apologised for his misconduct, we feel that it would be in the interest of sports if your esteemed organisation shows true sportsman spirit and allows entry.”

Sawant added that it was not the question of Shah Rukh as an actor but of any citizen.

“A ban is not a democratic punishment especially when the person has apologized. I request you to reconsider the punishment given to him and allow entry for today’s match,” he said

Khan was banned from entering the Wankhede Stadium after he allegedly misbehaved with security officials after an IPL match on May 16, 2012.

A few days later, the MCA, led by its former president, the late Vilasrao Deshmukh slapped a five-year ban on the actor from entering the stadium premises in south Mumbai in the wake of his alleged unruly behaviour.

Shah Rukh subsequently tendered a public apology for his ‘misbehaviour’ to his fans, the cricket fraternity and his family, but the MCA continued to enforce the ban on him.

The MCA had informed the Mumbai police on Monday that it would not permit Shah Rukh entry for Tuesday’s match at the stadium.