With the approaching assembly elections, politics from all quarters have been started gaining momentum, which is being expected to be more intense in the coming days. Whether it is Maharashtra's regional parties - Shiv Sena or Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena (MNS) or the regional parties of other states - all are involved in attacking and counter-attacking by raising petty issues to gain political mileage of it, which is nothing but a political gimmick.
Petty issues, to play politics over, have never been a worrying factor for the Shiv Sena or the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena; if one dies, another rises.
After implementing various tools to wooing marathi manoos- whose success/failure chart will be counted after state's assembly polls- the Shiv Sena, this time leaving behind its nascent political child MNS, once again has recalled its long back agitation during 90s to rename Bombay.
The latest target is made the return of Mumbai-Bombay (M-B) tug of war and the Shiv Sena once again up in arms about the name game raised its arm against the Bombay Scottish School and the Bombay Dyeing Mills. Sena has demanded ‘Bombay’ be switched to 'Mumbai'.
And, as expected to propelling their demand, the only way for these Senas is to resort to non-peaceful agitation whose promos shown to India on Sunday, when Shiv Sena workers vandalised signboards of two prominent institutions, which cling on to the B-word in their initial names. Keep in mind these were only the promos and the rest of the picture they might show in upcoming days.
Even the country's economic hub, Bombay Stock Exchange and the judicial institutions, Bombay High Court could not left from their ambit of M-B demand.
The political heat is again to go on boil with the Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav recent reply to Raj Thackeray's threatening to face the consequences of performing Chhatt Puja in Mumbai. Mr. Yadav has challenged MNS Chief Raj Thackeray to stop him from performing Chhatt Puja in Mumbai.
Significantly, as a rebuff to MNS, Maharashtra's Chief Minister also invited Mr. Yadav to come and perform the Puja and he will himself attend the Chhatt Puja.
The exchange of words will probably decide the course of action to be taken by Raj Thackeray's party as a reaction to the RJD's supremo remark.
Besides, the Shiv Sena's latest stand against name game has again provided weapon to MNS to strike back with bang with marathi manoos issue.
Over the question of “outsiders” and the “marathi manoos” the bhoomiputras of these two parties-Shiv Sena and MNS- are stood shoulder to shoulder and can not leave this issue to take advantage by others; and so recently Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Shiv Sena's organ Saamna endorsed the aggressive posturing of Raj Thackeray and said there was no question of differing from Raj's agenda as it was not different from the Shiv Sena's stand.
Earlier, Raj Thackeray in his rhetoric had asked leading Mumbai industrialists comprising Tata, Ambanis and Birlas to reserve 80 percent jobs in factories for Marathi Bhumiputras.
The MNS had also asked the State Bank of India to give priority to sons of the soil while recruiting people.
People who are unknown of, or have forgotten India's colonial past, say thanks to Raj for reminding them the policy of “divide and rule”- a vital strategy of Britishers, which made their stay for long in India divided over caste, culture, creed and selfishness.
Both the Shiv Sena and MNS without considering the consequences rake up issues to stir and stimulate the people's sentiments just to gain political advantages.
So far the state administration has been failed to tight the screw over MNS and Shiv Sena. Even the Raj's arrest was viewed by critics as pre-planned as he gained immense popularity since then.
All eyes have now been inquisitively stuck to the Maharashtra to know what next....
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Comments:
HRA
May 29, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Kulkarni
May 16, 2008 at 12:00 AMThis Shiv sena is becoming a sena of racists and very discriminating. We as Marathis will soon be kicked everywhere due to their actions. It seems marathis are suffering from some inferior complexes. They want to chase out all non-marathis and now the name imposing! So Indian style Hitlerism is favoring their ways now! Why is Shiv sena so concerened about a name. Why don?t they abandon all other cultures then and stick to only Maratha. Dont learn or speak english and hindi. Live the full marathi way then!!! Can they abandon this??? Stupid and so naive they are. So how would they call the famous Bollywood?.jolly molly Mollywood! Ha?uneducated fools! And the most important is that, when a country like ours, India, which is thriving ahead in the global scenario, sits and watches the scenario. Thats where India lags behind always! India is proud demonstrating missile techs to the world and look at what is happening inside! Look at the amount of discrimination done around the country and when Indians are discriminated outside the country, they start writing in every news paper. I think we should first correct these issues back home and then look at others. I find we Indians are more discriminating and even fiercely racist. If we do not eradicate this sense from within ourselves, we will be treated the same way by the outside world. Groups like Shiv Sena etc...should not be allowed to dictate their inferior feelings...such should be stumped out of the society and groups like them, imprisoned for life. Maharashtra always did well without these new nationalist ways.They create havoc and instability to all our national feelings. Isn?t it a shame to the name of Lord Shiva! I ask all Indians and sensible Marathis to rise up and block these people from creating another rising wave of chaos and violence. The Indian government should take immediate action against the shiv Sena. They seem to be becoming like a group of underworld dons dictating and using force and pandering the normal life in Maharashtra. The World is laughing ..shame on these rowdies! Bombay will always be Bombay to the rest of the world and to hundreds of millions in India itself. Be it Mumbai or Bombay does not change the real sense. For me as a Marathi, Bombay remains always as it was, and the new Mumbai is as well acceptable since its our Marathi name. But I will never make this an issue harming the sentiments of a normal life. Let these parties do something good for the humanity in Bombay. Help educate themselves and the poor around. Clean the Mumbai from all the dirt around. Within this filth is another filth creating further dirt in the society. Lets try and make India proud as a nation and not discriminate other nationalities!
Marilyn
May 15, 2008 at 12:00 AMI feel just to gain vote our political leaders should not create war among themselves. They should do something for our nation.Raj is a young leader so please strive hard for young generation .
BHAVESH VAITY
May 14, 2008 at 12:00 AMWell People write bull shit in their comments as well as report given here has no standing, Ask Common Marathi People what he suffers in Mumbai when any Tom Dick and HArry is claiming our Mumbai. MNS has give all statistics and facts about problems in recruitment board of Railways and if media people has guts prove and tell Laloo about it, Secondly "Divide and Rule" policy is never wanted in India as it is Unity in Diversity which should remain Said Dalai Lama in his Visit otherwise India will become like America - No mans Land all Greedy and Lusty People will stay and Local common people will be thrown out like Rein Indians in America. UN also agrees on fact to give jobs to locals first and its prime basic subject thought in Manangement is to adopt Local People and Culture, Why People dont understand this things when the so clim to be literate and Post such Topics here.
Bajirao
May 14, 2008 at 12:00 AMWhy does people like wadia or any other company or institute use the old name of Mumbai for their brand ?
Don't they think that they are also part of this country and if the constitution says everyone should use 'Mumbai' not B'bay then why do they breach law ?
This is devide and rule polcy to gain votes. Politicians and go to any level to get votes. Today MNS is discriminating between north indians and martahi manoos. Tommrow if north indian go out of maharashtra they would divide maharastirans on the basis of caste to get votes.
Is MNS doing someting for marathi farmers commiting suicide ? Do they have courage to drive out gujrati or rajasthanis who have built mumbai?