The head of the Shiv Sena's youth wing, Aditya Thackeray, on Tuesday said his party did not approve of its workers forcing actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui to withdraw from a Ramleela in Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported on Tuesday. The Bollywood actor was supposed to play Ravan’s uncle Marich in the programme at his native village of Budhana, but had to pull out after some Shiv Sena workers complained that "he was a Muslim".

Thackeray said, "I spoke to Nawazuddin Siddiquiji to convey that the party does not endorse the reason for which he was prevented from performing at the Ramlila in UP. The said person, an office-bearer or not, has not voiced the party's policy and the party will not support such uncalled for actions."

A First Information Report was registered against the right-wing party's Muzzaffarnagar chief, Mukesh Sharma and 19 others for promoting enmity. The Congress accused the Shiv sena of transforming into a "party of cowards" under leader Uddhav Thackeray. Congress leader Nitesh Rane said, "There was a time when Balasaheb [Bal Thackeray] used to proudly take blame for the wrongdoings of his party men."

Rane, the son of a former Sena official and Congress leader, said, "Everybody knows the party's anti-Muslim stand. And, if they are serious in saying they do not support such gimmicks of their leaders, they should immediately expel the accused."