The MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s campaign against north Indians in Mumbai has emerged as a political issue ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Ironically, instead of safeguarding the right of people regardless of their origin within India, the political parties are all busy taking the maximum mileage of the issue. The BJP sees this is an opportunity to win over north Indians, while the Congress feels that the campaign would weaken the Shiv Sena’s support base in the metropolis. The NCP does not see any immediate threat to its political constituency in the rural parts of the state. Intellectuals in Maharashtra have so far proved reluctant to take a stand on the issue. Maharashtrians may be in a minority in Mumbai but they are in an overwhelming majority in the state. Moreover, the development of the state capital has been helping the sons of the soil because development has always been a two-way process.
Despite a big failure of the Congress and NCP government in the state in taking any firm action against this goonda raaj, they have no other option but to blame the media for cornering them for this folly.
Farzana Nigar
Ranchi, Jharkhand