By J N Raina



The ill-advised son-of-the-soil therapy, being propounded in prosperous Maharashtra, is preposterous. It does not portend well for the dignity of this nation of one billion people.

The open advocacy of parochialism is insensible. It is against national ethos; not in conformity with the security and solidarity of India. Confusing and biased statements are being issued about the ‘ownership’ of Mumbai—as if it is someone’s fiefdom—with one set of political leadership squawking and provoking the other, making Indians red-faced.

It is detrimental to the larger interests of the country. Instead of attempting to raise the economic status of Indian manoos—a majority of who are still crisscrossing on the borderlines of poverty--- the Shiv Sena is frequently, unabashedly and vociferously raising the banner of ‘revolt’ in support of the Marathi manoos, just for vested interests.

It does not behove the leadership of either the Shiv Sena or the Congress to raise such issues just for vote-bank politics. The contention of the Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi that ‘Mumbai belongs to Marathi people’ is ridiculous. Such utterances are inappropriate and galling. These views are outdated and unpleasant in a democratic society. Inter alia, it tantamount to rascism. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has disagreed with the SS, an ally of the BJP, and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Naunirman Sena (MNS), keeping in view the national interest. He has chastised the Thackeray clan for raising the bogey of ‘Mumbai-for-Marathis’ plank. The SS, the Congress and MNS have an eye on the coming civic polls this year.

North Indians, particularly hailing from Bihar and UP, constitute about 40 per cent of Mumbai’s population. They are being frequently attacked by the SS and MNS activists, creating cracks in the Indian society. Bhagwat has struck the right chord saying ‘Mumbai is for all Indians’ and India belongs to all Indians. No regional or linguistic entity can lay claim to a particular region.

Instead of helping people of different regions to get interconnected, the activists are disintegrating India. This kind of divisive politics is more dangerous than terrorism. What the MNS and the SS is doing, is illegal and unconstitutional. This kind of hate campaign against North Indians is nauseating. As per the provisions contained in the Indian Penal Code, it is an ‘offence’ to spread hatred or provoke people to violence. People from all over India have a constitutional right to seek job opportunities in Mumbai. Art 19 of the Constitution (Fundamental Rights) has guaranteed all citizens an inalienable right to move freely throughout the ‘territory’ of India, and practice any profession or to carry out ‘business’ in any manner.

SS leader Bal Thackeray did not spare even Mukesh Ambani, the icon of Indian industry, for saying that ‘Mumbai belonged to all’. Bal Thackeray issued a strongly-worded rebuttal, raising the hornets’ nest by declaring that ‘Maharashtrians have the same right over Mumbai as Mukesh Ambani has over the Reliance companies’. What a comparison of sorts. Earlier, in the same vein, he had lashed out at Sachin Tendulkar for challenging the Shiv Sena’s brand of jingoistic politics to say ‘Mumbai belongs to all’. It never means Mumbai does not belong to Maharashttrians. We are all sons of the same soil. No one has an exclusive right over Mumbai or Delhi and no one can be forced to speak a particular language like Marathi. If the Thackerays are right in asserting that Mumbai should belong exclusively to Maharashtrians, why blame Kashmiris for saying ‘Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris’. Then why continue fighting with Pakistan to defend Kashmir and sacrifice Indian soldiers? Why agitate for the abrogation of Art 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir? It is because of Art 370 that non-Kashmiri Indians cannot purchase landed property in that state. It is because of Art 370 that separatism has grown and Kashmiris have been alienated.

Maharashtra is not a small state. If fissiparous tendencies are allowed to grow unchecked, if the ruling Cong-NCP Democratic Front Government feels shy of taking stern action against the perpetrators of ‘fascist’ trend --- because the ruling party has a role in spreading this virus--- the cancer of divisive politics will spread like wild fire in the rest of India. The sparks are already visible in North East. If the unconstitutional activities are not curbed at ab initio with firmness, it will lead to subversion of hard-earned democratic system.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray recently issued an ultimatum to non-Marathi taxi drivers that they will not be allowed to carry on their business if they do not speak and write in Marathi only. Virtually, the state Government came out in support of him. These can be considered as anti-national and unpatriotic utterances. According to legal luminary Soli Sorabjee, such threats “ tantamount to criminal intimidation. It smacks of fascism.” If the fascist trend is not halted, it can percolate to other regions. It is here that anti-national elements can fish in troubled waters and create anarchy. It would be difficult to control later. Divisiveness is ‘anathema’ to the culture and spirit of a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai.

Shiv Sena wants Maharashtrians to learn Marathi just to become interpreters. We should learn other languages for broader knowledge and get equipped with modern tools for better chances of learning and earning. Marathi manoos is better of than his counterparts in the rest of India. He is only to be weaned away from some social evils. If the Government is just interested in extracting liquor from foodstuff, what can be expected?

The SS initially launched its hate campaign against the south Indians. Now for the past two years, they have been attacking North Indians. The tragedy is that ruling party is evasive in tackling the situation. The Chief Minister does not act unless he is called by the Party High Command or reprimanded by the PM. Many senior leaders in the SS feel suffocated and are on the verge of quitting. A biased atmosphere is discernible in Mumbai.

Divisive politics is harmful for the country. The SS should look towards New Delhi and not wrap up itself in a cocoon. North Indians are in a majority in the metropolis. Instead of alienating them, their services can be utilized for better purposes. If the Congress can make use of Bangladeshi nationals settled in Assam and Delhi, why North Indians are being hated?

SS can utilize the services of industrialists to develop Bihar and UP. It can help in two ways. If the two backward states are economically developed, migration to Mumbai can be minimized. Rather there will be reverse migration. Secondly, such magnanimity can help the party to a great extent in making New Delhi Shiv Sena’s seat of power.

If Mayawati of a poor state like UP can harbour ambitions of becoming Prime Minister—and she really tried --- what hinders Bal Thackeray or his kin to cherish such a dream?

SS is comparatively older, more experienced and ‘mature’ in politics than Mayawati and her BSP. It is quite possible but only if the SS and MNS give up divisive politics. END


(J N Raina is a renowned journalist of Jammu & Kashmir, Retired as UNI News editor Mumbai)
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