Police can not do anything to Raj unless there is political will and proper grounds.
If he has sown that poison seed amongst the masses & if his statements are responsible for "migration of people from Maharashtra", then it should be construed as grave offence.
These are things one can not & should not ignore. If people are forced out of their homes with all their belongings then it amounts "ethnic cleansing" even though in softer terms.
Instead of arresting him, his party MNS should be banned for the upcoming elections & the ban should continue unless his take on North Indians changes.
No, I am not against any Maharashtrians & neither am I supporting Lalu or Amarsingh. What Raj is doing is harming the Mahrashtrian pride, big-heartedness & the very culture of tolerance which has prospered that state into current position. His myopic view is hurting Maharashtra more than anybody else.
Its time the GOI & CEC crack the whip before these type of things start elsewhere in the country. Its matter of shame for India in general & Mumbai in particular.
RE:Why should you arrest Raj ?
by milind sabnis on May 06, 2008 10:14 AM Permalink
Dear John,
You are exteremely one-sided in your analysis.
You are blaming only Raj, why are you not blaming Amar Singh, Mulayam Singh, Lalu Yadav who are cultivating huge vote-banks in Maharashtra? They are trying to grab power through unmitigated migration from UP/Bihar. Look at Abu Azmi saying he will get 20,000 from Azamgarh UP to fight against Marathis. Hindi-bhashis do not learn the local language do not assimilate with the local culture, on the other hand try to impose Hindi and their culture on locals instead.
The worst part, migrants from UP/Bihar are extremely politically active as they are well aware that the political route is the key to the regularisation of their illegal activities viz. encroaching slums on public lands, illegal hawking on streets, plying 9-10 taxis/autos with a single permit forget 10 times, bribing to get rationcards/ voter ids etc.
You have not spoken about the labor contractor system which provide labor to industries in Maharashtra. They are only sourcing bihari/up laborers. Why? because they work for lower wages, If lower wages is the only criteria for industries to be set up in Maharashtra, they can as well go to Bihar/UP.
Here's one more example of the quest for political power by Hindi-bhashis in Maharashtra. They are trying to make Hindi as the official language in BMC (a local govt body). This is an extremely aggrogant move, which is unprecedented, unheard of in any non-Hindi speaking state of this country.
RE:Why should you arrest Raj ?
by Ashish Kanekar on May 06, 2008 11:01 AM Permalink
Point is Milind the industries take help of MIDC, water from Maharashtra state, electricity from Maharashtra state and then give us lectures about labor. As you said appropriately, if the cost is such a big factor move your damn industries to Bihar/UP - it will be even cheaper there.
Another point is this Kohinoor Mills plot for Rajsaheb Thackeray.... Nobody talks about lands that the parsis for example have from Brit India days in Maharashtra. Brits were very liberal in handing out land to whoever hassled them less. One Maharashtrian gets some land in Mumbai and everyone from Jaya Bachchan down has their hackles raised about it.
RE:Why should you arrest Raj ?
by John Corniche on May 06, 2008 11:38 AM Permalink
Milind,
I agree to most of the points you have raised.
We all know Abu Azmi's background & how he runs his politics. There is a definite need to counter his politics.
Second, I agree with you regarding North Indians flexing their political muscle in Mumbai. They ought to assimilate into the local culture. (Problem with Mumbai has been it was always osmo & Hindi always had upper hand over Marathi).
Third, the taxi permits & labour contractors should be brought certain legislation and local people should be protected. The onus here is on Maharashtrain politicians who has stand their ground & protect the interests.
And finally, even though Hindi is spoken widely in Mumbai, it should never be official language inside BMC or any other govt organisation.
But Milind, all said & done I still feel the route to this could have been different. We can not just kick-out fellow Indians while we are happy with lakhs of illegeal Bangladeshis inside Mumbai (who are a real security threat).
