I am not a Marathi, but I am a Mumbaiker

¶Arrest me and be ready to bear the consequences….you will have to regret.”
¶If Raj is arrested, entire Maharashtra will be set on fire¶.
These two statements will make you feel that Raj Thackeray is biggest political figure in the country. But unfortunately that is not the case at all. But the attempt to pump the same in the mind of people is going on for quite some time now in the state. Going into an election season, Raj Thackeray is getting very good publicity in the national
media. He has become an iconic figure after being arrested in the wee hours of Tuesday. Every big politician has been to jail some time, right?

But then there is big difference between Raj being arrested and others. Others were arrested for a progressive cause while Raj has been arrested for a total selfish and divisive cause. His MNS clearly understands that after failing in Brihnamumbai Municipal Elections, it can’t let the same thing happen in upcoming assembly and general,elections. If the story repeats itself, then MNS will become one of the so many political parties in the country and future will be in tantrums. The party thus is playing to a clear plan of getting.traditional and Shiv Sena vote bank by gripping the state and city in identity politics. Well, political pressure can let you do anything. So,
what if the state’s image is being maligned or people are facing  unnecessary troubles or destruction to public property or death of innocents (student from Bihar this time and a native of Nashik in the last violence).

I am peeved the way Mumbai is being targeted by some parochial agenda. Mumbai was tense today after the arrest of MNS leader followed by  rampage by the activists. The public property was destroyed and in some parts of the city taxis were damaged. I somehow wonder how a poor man looses or may be is the center of target when such incident take place. The reason is plain and simple that there is no one to hear his voice and is very easy target. What will a taxi driver who earns a two time bread after driving from morning to evening will do when his living (taxi) is destroyed? Who will help the family of Bhaji waala’s or other vendors when they are brutally beaten? What was the fault of that paanwala who has been selling paans in the city for last 25
years?
The identity politics has gripped the city many times this year and city has suffered the most. When the state of Bombay (Maharshtra and Gujarat) was being decided five decades back it was argued that Bombay being made union territory. The simple reason was that it was so multi-cultural that it could not be classified based on regional or linguistic identity. But that was not done considering the importance
of the city in the development of the state. So despite pressures from various sections of the society, Bombay or Mumbai was merged with Maharashtra. The point I am trying to raise here that Mumbai has always been a multi-cultured city and this is something very especial about it. Mumbai is known worldwide for its cosmopolitan nature. So one should refrain from sowing the seed of identity in this vibrant city.

.Maharshtra Navnirman Sena has lost the way completely. It was formed to bring a change in the state in positive sense. But has turned into a bunch of goons shouting ¶Mumbaikar mhanje Marathich aso¶ which means ¶Mumbaikar should be Marathi ¶ There are many problems that can be addressed by political party in much more democratic way without dividing the people.

I have been in Mumbai for last 5 years and love being a Mumbaikar.