Mumbai is for all.
2008
By:
Rishabh Srivastava - Profile
There are 176 more posts on Jai Hind: Proud to be an Indian by Rishabh Srivastava
Categories:
Law & Order, Politics, Society
Tags:
Amitabh Bachchan, bollywood, Law and Order, MNS, North Indian, Politics, Raj Thackeray, Society
6 Comments
Join the discussion»
No. of views: 925
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...
Print This
The dogs in Mumbai have been unleashed once again by power hungry regional politicians. Petty ‘taxi drivers’,'chaat waalah’ and other poor vendors are being accused and abused physically in broad daylights, in the heart of financial capital of India, Mumbai. Indian newspapers are full of reports that North Indians (particularly those from the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) in Mumbai are being attacked by supporters of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, a regional political party founded by Raj Thackeray in Maharashtra. Raj has been giving anti- North Indians statements for quite sometime and is ridiculing the festivals of Northern India (particularly the Chhat festival of Bihar). Just a few days back, he alleged the superstar Amitabh Bachchan of not doing enough for Maharashtra and insulted him for his love for the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP).
The comments of Raj are not only naive but stupid as well. Mumbai has 30% population from North India. The trades related to Dairy, Milk production, education, Paan (beetel leaf), Taxi transport, Flour Mills, Vegetables, Security Guards and junk items are being managed by North Indians in Mumbai. In fact these people have become part and parcel of the life in Mumbai and they are doing their best in making this city the financial hub of India. As such a blatant attack on them is likely to hamper the overall functioning of the city. Raj is of view that Mumbai should be run by Maharashtrians and none from outside should meddle with Marathi Speaking people. But attacking the innocent is condemnable act. He is just targeting poor and daily earners and none from those who control the economy. This is the way he want to bring “Navnirman” in Maharashtra. Going by his worldview, some native Americans should now vandalise Indians out there, right?
The Shiv Sena’s changed ways – the party wants to go beyond its traditional Maharashtrian vote bank and hence wooing North Indians – have given Thackeray a chance to make a bid for its traditional voter base. And Raj Thackeray, hoping to divert the Marathi manoos to his party, has jumped in to occupy that space.
I have been in Mumbai for last 3 years and find it very nice. It was the first time in my life when i saw the various cultures together. The Marathis, Gujaratis, Marwadis, Rajasthani,North Indians, South Indians, etc. This is what is known as spirit of Mumbai. Mumbai has something for everyone and this is what so very especial about Mumbai. Mumbai is considered to be the Global City of India. It is home to one of the world’s top 10 centers of commerce in terms of global financial flow. Mumbai is also the commercial and entertainment capital of India, and houses important financial institutions. But the incidents like this certainly dent that image of Mumbai.
The recent developments have revived the question whether those living in metropolis have a right to target migrants from other states. It is high time that as a Social Secular Democratic Republic, we rose against regionalism and learn to treat all as Indians? This political gimmick is unnecessary, unwarranted and will spark tensions among common residents of the city of Mumbai and state of Maharashtra. Raj has lost his political sheen since leaving Bal Thackeray & forming his own party MNS. Instead of Nav Nirman his party is only busy in destroying things. The situation needs to be calmed very soon because the Political Games hve begun (Reference to speeches of leaders from Samaajwadi Party, MNS) and one more incident can lead to chaos in Mumbai which will be totally uncalled for. A sense is required from people of Mumbai and don’t fall prey to this situation. I really hope the people would show a great maturity at this hour.
Liked this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed or Subscribe by email
aptly put, mumbai is sufferin from maratha imperalism they are layin false claims over it,as they are also not natives of mumbai only konkanis & kolis are.
This is goonda “Raj” – nothing short of it. This is what this dude learnt from his uncle. The formula is the same, just that this time the target “outsiders” are from UP and Bihar – in the 60s through the 80s, it was Gujaratis and Tamilians.
All these damn son of the soil politicians from Maharashtra, are the ones who are responsible for slums in Mumbai as well as a huge influx of Bangladeshis in Mumbai – they take money from these people and tell them to encroach on public land. This has been going on for a long long time. Then they turn around and say Mumbai has become a big slum!Without the blessings of local politicians, not a single slum can come up in Mumbai or anywhere else in India. Mumbai gets huge revenues from taxes as well as all the real estate transactions – which is not spent on improving the infrastructure, but eaten up by these “sons of soil” politicians. Just imagine, this city that is 60% slum, has amongst the highest real estate prices in the world! and still the infrastructure is so screwed up that flooding takes place every monsoon…and the International airport looks like a dingy bus station.
But this is besides the point. Raj does not have a right to prevent any Indian citizen from settling in Mumbai, neither does he have the right to go around with a “Marashtrian meter” to figure out to what degree whether anyone has adopted the local “culture” – which anyway is a mixture of several cultures and will continue to evolve.
But the most shameful part is that the CM and PM have miserably failed to uphold the Indian constitution, which (first and foremost) protects the right to livelihood and safety of all citizens. So were they sleeping or drunk when they took the oath to occupy their high offices? How come they get to rest on their wide backsides and be mute spectators when citizens are being intimidated and their livelihoods are threatened? The most shameful part is that the PC is socializing with hoodlums like Raj, while innocent people are being beaten up on the streets.
While the CM and PM fiddle and fudge, the virus has been allowed to spread to other cities. Why is there so much of doubt on whether Raj should be arrested or not? Is it not a crime to let loose goons on hapless, innocent people? Is it not a crime to destroy the property of other people? To destroy public property? To threaten and beat up other Indian citizens? Would they have soft peddled the issue had Raj been an average Indian and not a damn politician? What are the CM and PM waiting for – blessings from Sonia, from the UN or from the astrologer with the parrot?
And will the real son of the soil Maharashtrian please stand up and be counted and speak his/her mind instead of allowing this demented idiot to be a spokesperson for all of Mumbai and Maharashtra?
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase. 2
I am just extremely inspried with all your article writing capabilities as neatly as with the format for all your web page. Either way keep up that serviable prime quality writing, it’s an infrequent to read a nice web-site for instance this…
Nice piece of writing. Amazing evening!
Well said.
With local elections just around the corner, expect more rhetoric from some of the parties.
The contribution of migrants and immigrants to the economy of Mumbai is immense.