Shiv Sena leaders from Maharashtra have come under severe criticism lately. They have single handily taken a stand on issues of national concern and have been hauled on coal for their actions – by the media.
All the issues that Shiv Sena raised are relevant in today’s time. But they are cleverly side lined by the media. They are provoked constantly on the issue of Mumbai. The TV anchors are provoking eminent personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani etc and creating sound bytes. If proper analysis is done and all issues separately analysed then Shiv Sena’s concern is valid.
These are the 5 issues for which Shiv Sena has come under heavy criticism:
1. Stoking Regionalism
Indian states were created on linguistic basis. Every linguistic majority gets best deal in their respective states. Maharahstra state was created only after a long and agonizing agitation in which over 100 people had to give up their lives.
If regionalism is anti-Indian then why did the government agree for separate Telangana state? Why non-Himachali’s are not allowed to buy property in Himachal Pradesh? Or why the grossly anti national autonomy report submitted in J&K. Does J&K not belong to all Indians or is this privilege restricted only to Maharashtra/Mumbai?
The Marathi speaking population must be given priority in Maharashtra – Period.
2. Deteriorating Law and order problem
Media has launched a shrill campaign as though because of Shiv Sena the law and order has collapsed in Mumbai. They even created a term – “violence of the mind”. In fact the only time there was law & order problem was when MNS activists were beating people who had come to attend railway exams. And every one now knows that encouraging MNS has only resulted in dividing the traditional Marathi vote bank and benefited the ruling party.
In last week there have been a series of naxalite attacks in Jharkhand, infiltration attempts in Jammu, kidnappings in Bihar.
Rahul Gandhi’s visit was all about one upmanship and did the job of rubbing salt on wounds of the Maharashtrian pride. The Shiv Sena had only spoken about raising black flags during Rahul’s visit and the protest was thwarted by a huge contingent of police force.
If only the Police had taken a similar stand during terrorist attacks.
3. Uncontrolled Migration to cities
There is a huge migration taking place from UP & Bihar. It must be analysed and corrective action must be taken. The leaders of those states must be taken into account and made to mend their corrupt & inept ways. This will ultimately lead to a uniform development across India. Just saying India is for all Indians and any Indian can work anywhere is an escapist statement and will not solve the problem.
Those media people who are talking about Mumbai are sitting in Air Conditioned TV studios in Delhi and have never been to overcrowded filthy areas of Mumbai like Govandi or Mankhurd. Due to uncontrolled migration the infrastructure in Mumbai just has collapsed.
Today it is Mumbai; tomorrow it may be Bangalore or Ahemdabad to crumple.
4. Not mixing Sports & Politics
Pakistan has no sports relation with Israel. Telangana activist’s recently dug the pitch to prevent IPL from taking place in Hyderabad. Those who say don’t mix politics with arts or sports are being hypocrites.
In spite of all the fake statistics put up by the media, majority of Indians still believe that Pakistani cricket players & artists must be kept out of India. Their love for art/sports/films is because of the huge market that India offers and has nothing to do with passion.
We have to learn from History. The main reason why apartheid was eliminated was because the world took a tough stand and boycotted South Africa. Similar tough effort is required to eradicate terrorism by boycotting those countries that encourage mindless violence on Indian’s i.e Pakistan & Australia.
And that is what Shiv Sena advocates – Isolate countries that support terrorism.
5. Release of movie – My Name is Khan
Sharukh Khan is a very sharp business man. He was indulging in a publicity stunt for promoting his film. He may have thought that his pro Pak statement would consolidate the global Muslim community. Unfortunately it has gone horribly wrong. It has angered the average Indian who is at the forefront of bearing the brunt of bomb blasts.
The strange thing is that he did not actually bid for a Pak player. Now he is giving stupid excuses like they did not have funds.
Lack of genuine Muslim leaders in India is the reason why hypocrites like Sharukh Khan are given importance. He has managed to consolidate Muslim vote bank and has behaved like a typical minority politician by giving anti-national sound bytes.
It is a matter of time that he joins politics.
Maharahstra will witness a destructive game of politics because congress is trying to establish its vote bank in UP & Bihar. The first step that Maharastrians must take is to unite forces. All the five great Maratha leaders (Udhav, Pawar, Raj, Athavle, Munde) must leave aside their differences and join hands or else Mahararashtra will go the Andhra way.
Or they will end up carrying the slippers of Gandhi’s on their heads.
P.S: The Author is a North Indian who has spent considerable time in Mumbai.