'Stand with people, not multiplexes'

Mumbai: Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde has written a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, asking him to revoke the affidavit in Bombay high court over food in multiplexes.

Mr Munde has claimed that the government’s affidavit under the title of security is actually a way out for multiplex owners to loot the public. Therefore, the state government should stand with the people and not multiplex owners, he urged.

“The permission for theatres to do business comes under Maharashtra Theatre Act 1966. This act does not mention anything pertaining to food in theatre halls. Still, multiplex owners have banned outside food, but they continue to sell their products. This is a clear violation of law,” Mr Munde said in his letter.

The Opposition leader further said, “The state government has taken a completely contradictory stand in the Bombay high court through the affidavit on August 8, 2016.

It restricts outside food under the reason of security. Stringent security rules are followed in the case of air travel, but outside food is allowed there. In such a case, how come theatres are excluded?”

The multiplex food issue has been a talking point for the past two months. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers had thrashed the manager of a Pune multiplex over high food prices. Later, multiplex owners met MNS chief Raj Thackeray and accepted the condition of minimum price.