We will welcome Malala, but won't allow Pakistani actors to step on Maharashtra soil: Shiv Sena

A day after Shiv Sena took a stand to not allow Pakistani actors on Maharashtra soil, party leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that they will welcome Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai if she comes to India.

Speaking to the news agency, Raut said, "If Malala comes to India, Shiv Sena will welcome her. She is a girl who took the bullet to raised the voice against terrorism."

Raut also said that the Pakistan-loving people will be taught a good lesson.

On Tuesday, Akshay Bardapurkar, general secretary of the Shiv Sena Chitrapat Sena​ said, "We have taken a stand that we won't allow any Pakistani actor, cricketer or performer to step on Maharashtra's soil."

Also read: People opposing Shiv Sena's stance can go to Pakistan: Ramdas Kadam

"Shiv Sena won't let the Pakistani actors in the films -- Mahira Khan (Raees) and Fawad Khan (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil) - promote the films in Maharashtra," Bardapurkar said.

Earlier in this month, questioning the "silence" of Pakistani leaders on terrorism, Malala said she harbours the hope of becoming the Prime Minister of her country.

The activist survived gun shots from Taliban and gradually recovered after getting treatment first in Pakistan and then later in the UK, where she lives with her family currently.

Malala also won worldwide acclaim for standing up for the right to education of girls in Swat valley in 2007 when Taliban controlled the region.

In the last few weeks, Sena has hit national headlines with its protest against Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali's concerts in Pune and Mumbai (which were consequently cancelled), ink attack on former BJP ideologue Sudheendra Kulkarni and opposition to release of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri's book, as well as protest at BCCI office over the planned visit by Pakistan Cricket Board chief.​