Coming out in support of Shiv Sena's protest against Pakistani players in the upcoming Hockey India League, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar today said the beheading of a soldier by Pakistani troops was an insult to 125 crore Indians.         

Pawar was talking to reporters at the NCP office in Mumbai after Shiv Sena workers from Nashik district led by former Sena district chief Sunil Bagul joined the party.         

"Majority of Indians agree that people-to-people contact between the two countries in the field of sports and art should be maintained despite differences. But the recent incident (beheading) was an indecent act, an insult to 125 crore Indians.        

"Pakistani cricketers came here to play, just as actors and singers from there work in Hindi films. But Pakistani hockey players have come after the recent incident," Pawar said, when asked about Sena's protest against Pakistani players in the Hockey India League.         

Pawar also expressed displeasure over the abrupt transfer of ACP Vasant Dhoble last week pending inquiry into the death of a hawker during an eviction drive.