Public asserted their rights by going to watch My Name Is Khan: Ambika Soni

With the controversial film My Name Is Khan today witnessing a healthy turnout in Maharashtra despite its limited release in that state, the government today said the public has asserted its national right by going for the movie.

"From what I have seen on television today, Shiv Sena seems to have been limited to only 1,600 persons (referring to thousands of party's workers behind bars). There is a national view on the issue and as citizens of this country, we all have a view on this. People are free to do what they want to do.You cannot have divisive politics as a base of your political strength," information and broadcasting minister, Ambika Soni told reporters here.

Asked to react to the controversy related to the film having a limited release in Maharashtra, Soni said, "If we in the ministry can have months of discussions with broadcasters on how to regulate content, it goes on to show that we are an open society."

"Similarly, if the common man has filled up cinema theatres to watch the film, by doing so, the people of India have asserted their citizenship. Citizens of the country have today given us a lesson in unity."