But being a Shiv Sena leader, I endorse the views of the party in this connection. We cannot welcome artistes from Pakistan, which is disrupting peace in Kashmir. They extend a hand of friendship on one side and promote militancy on the other. We cannot welcome this attitude,'' he said.

However, Manohar Joshi was not quite as lucid on the state government's policy on visiting artistes. In fact, he emphasised, there is no official line on the matter.

Yet, the chief minister was quick to agree that it is the saffron alliance government's duty to offer protection to ``important persons visiting the state''. Addressing a press conference after the weekly cabinet meetingtoday, Joshi said he could not divulge the decisions taken as he is bound by the model code of conduct to refrain on making any announcements. The code is in force in view of the impending by-elections in 10 districts in the state.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had recently expressed strong disapproval over the disruption of Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali's programme by a mob of Sainiks on April 26. Asked to reconcile the Sena's stand versus that of its alliance partner, the BJP, Joshi said he would not like to elaborate. ``The views of the BJP and that of the Sena are quite clear,'' came his cryptic reply. However, he denied there was any rift on the matter. Asked whether the government would initiate any action against the Sainiks who had disrupted Ali's concert, Joshi said: ``Where is the complaint? As none has been filed in this issue, we have not initiated any action.''

Though the government could initiate suo moto action, the chief minister ruled this out, saying his government does notconsider the issue serious enough.

On the recent ransacking of artist M F Husain's residence by Bajrang Dal activists, Joshi admitted it was a very serious issue. ``The government has taken a serious note of it and we shall take care that such incidents are curbed in future.''