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It is, therefore, distressing that certain local political formations in Maharashtra succumb to the temptation of parochialism every once in a while by projecting non-existent antagonism between ‘natives’ and ‘outsiders’. Invariably, it is Mumbai, India’s first and still the most cosmopolitan city, which bears the brunt of their insularity. In the 1960s, their target was Dakshin Bharatiyas (South Indians). Now, resentment is sought to be whipped up against Uttar Bharatiyas (North Indians).
The notion that any city or part of India belongs only to its ‘natives’ is unconstitutional, repugnant and injurious to the ideal of national unity and integration. From time immemorial, our people have freely moved from one part of the country to another, believing all of India to be their own. As far as Mumbai is concerned, although it is the capital of Maharashtra, people from every corner of the country have migrated to this city of dreams and opportunities since its inception. Mumbai is what it is today because of the contribution of diverse communities inhabiting it. In particular, the two sources of its national and international profile — business and Bollywood — would be unthinkable without a grateful recognition of the role of non-Marathi speaking communities. It would be a great misfortune if Mumbai degenerated into a provincial capital.
Therefore, Raj Thackeray, whose Maharashtra Navanirman Sena has made impressive strides in a short time after breaking away from the Shiv Sena, has done no good either to Maharashtra’s proud reputation, or to himself, by making ill-advised remarks about North Indians in Mumbai or about a national icon like Amitabh Bachchan. He has a promising political future. He would, therefore, do well to win the support of the city’s considerable population of North Indians in his inclusive political strategy, without being apologetic about espousing legitimate Marathi pride.
While one must condemn anything that weakens our unifying Indian identity, it would be hypocritical to turn a blind eye to certain harsh social and political realities of Mumbai. With 1.9 crore residents in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area, which includes Navi Mumbai and Thane, its population has rapidly grown to become greater than the combined population of nine Indian states. Its once-famed infrastructure is highly overstretched, lowering the quality of life for rich and poor alike. It once had the best municipal governance in India; not any more. Fifty-four per cent of its residents live in slums, most of which are so unbelievably congested and squalid that it is criminal on the part of any government to let people live in such inhuman conditions. It is well known to authorities that tens of thousands of Bangladeshis, many with voting rights, are living in Mumbai. Some 20,000 houses in the older part of the city are in a dangerously dilapidated state, the reason why every monsoon one reads about people dying in incidents of house collapse.
Mumbai is decaying. But few politicians in the city, state or country are taking a serious and comprehensive view of its chronic condition, and fewer still are willing to take the tough decisions to set things right. By tough decisions, one does not mean banning ‘outsiders’ — north Indians or Indians from any other part of India — from settling in Mumbai. That certainly is wrong. But is it wrong to hold that encroachments should be stopped, that people must not be allowed to occupy pavements and places earmarked for public utilities, or that the cut-off years for regularisation of slums must be strictly adhered to?
Indeed, some political parties have developed a vested interest in allowing unauthorised settlements to proliferate for vote-bank considerations. When illegal settlements along the lethally polluted Mithi river were sought to be cleared after the July 2005 deluge in Mumbai, which claimed nearly 500 lives, it was stoutly resisted by local politicians who felt threatened that their voter-base would shrink. Mumbaikars know of hundreds of such examples of duplicity and political muscle-flexing.
The question that Raj Thackeray and many people in Mumbai are asking is: How can slum redevelopment and rehabilitation ever succeed if there is political patronage for the creation of new slums? How can Mumbai ever see orderly urban development, with world-class infrastructure and civic amenities for all its residents, if there is deliberate and corruption-induced disorder in the use of its most scarce resource — land? Indeed, which Indian city can grow well if short-term and partisan political interests undermine a long-term and integral vision of urban renewal?
Hence, some of Raj Thackeray’s concerns are right, but he has voiced them wrongly.
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Mumbai belongs to Kolis the real original inhabitants of Mumbai, and Marathis being the prime all over, previous history of Mumbai before British came is much more better than any place, it was a trade port before Portugese and British it is notion created by few odd people who migrated to mumbai during industrial revolution, the population working for cotton mills, railways etc were from Mumbai and not from any other place. It was congress which headed in Mumbai bringing other peoples in Mumbai and after that other people came into picture. Mumbai is creation of Dadasaahebs Phalkes Bollywood, Bhai Bandarkars Kolis Fishery trades, Mango and Cashew trades which brought firstly Gujus from Surat and nearby, than followed Kokanis from Karanatak, after which one by one followed, than after partition sikhs, and sindhis migrated. Mumbais real people got back under narrow minded reservations for migrated population by minority quotas in colleges and schools.Mumbai belongs to Maharashtra
If Laloo is promoting Beharis in Railway and we maharashtrian are not geeting chances , if advetisements of railway jobs were being published only in Bihar and UP, then what ever Raj is saying is correct. If Cinstitution of India is giving right of equality at every level to everyone then Officers of Railways has broken a law an as Laloo is Heading the railway all Responsibility of what ever has happened in Mumbai in Past few days comes on Laloo's shoulders. I am not saying all north indians ar bad but most of Bhaiyyas are spreading Dadagiri over Marathis who are extremely polite , Its a fault of adminitration and Raj Thakreyji has just focussed on it. Why should not he fight for the students/ candidates of maharshtra, as human being we also want to work in Railway, railway is not anybodies personal property so Mind It!!And can any body tell me these North indians are coming to maharashtra for earning bread butter according to Abu Azami , Sanjay Nirupam and many more bihari supporter
Yes this is right Mumbai is not because of people from Maharashtra only.People coming from different states have made it.Immigration from different states is continuing since British Raj also.Indians from other places were forced to work here in Mumbai.Now they made mumbai they have homes in mumbai their children are in mumbai.Students want to have better studies .What do Indian students do when they need to do higher studies for research.They go abroad, not because they like to stay but because India has not been so developed so that it can invest money on research.Similar is the case with mumbai and other cities in India. Why do you want to press this idea that people in their states should stay there, grow there and die there.If it is so then why calling them states.Break the country again into 30 countries.That is the only solution. Then be ready to have 30 x 30 riots i.e each state fighting for its power.Get 30 more countries , lakhs of more dead bodies, destroy your children's career life. If in other states like UP and Bihar people start abusing marathis then will Raj Thackeray come for rescue? Will their supporters come for rescue.? He won't come, no one will, it doesn't take more than a minute to start a fire but it takes more time to remove it, it needs more people and water. Think on the consequences.Your people will live only if you let others live.
Yes this is right Mumbai is not because of people from Maharashtra only.People coming from different states have made it.Immigration from different states is continuing since British Raj also.Indians from other places were forced to work here in Mumbai.Now they made mumbai they have homes in mumbai their children are in mumbai.Students want to have better studies .What do Indian students do when they need to do higher studies for research.They go abroad, not because they like to stay but because India has not been so developed so that it can invest money on research.Similar is the case with mumbai and other cities in India. Why do you want to press this idea that people in their states should stay there, grow there and die there.If it is so then why calling them states.Break the country again into 30 countries.That is the only solution. Then be ready to have 30 x 30 riots i.e each state fighting for its power.Get 30 more countries , lakhs of more dead bodies, destroy your children's career life. If in other states like UP and Bihar people start abusing marathis then will Raj Thackeray come for rescue? Will their supporters come for rescue.? He won't come, no one will, it doesn't take more than a minute to start a fire but it takes more time to remove it, it needs more people and water. Think on the consequences.Your people will live only if you let others live.
why are maharashtrians going to other places then if he holds such a philosophy. He is not a caretaker for maharashtrians and that he is just a party leader. If he is a voice of people then he has to first prove that, what he is doing right now is just gangsta raj
You have missed the plot,the real problem is with illegal muslims, who are causing mayhem and social disorder in Mumbai.What are doing in India,these illegal muslim jihadists must be booted out of Maha, this is the real issue rest is all tittle tattle.Maha Govt, is weak, feeble,inept and is a sucker.They always suck upto criminlas,islamists and communist thugs. People power is now on display,borne out of sheer frustration and hopelessness
If we read Raj's interview in TOI yesterday-he has brought the point that Non Maharshtrians should adopt language,culture of Maharashtra. If his fight is towards this end; there is nothing wrong-Be french when you are in Paris-they say! If a Non Maha says I will not speak Marathi-that is wrong. My relatives staying diferent parts of India have adopted language,culture and friendship of the place they stay. That is how it should be.
You have missed the plot and is totally misguided.Read between the line and grasp the nettle.It is not an issue between Hindus pited against Hindus,this has been curry flavoured, by the populist goons.The real isuue is the criminal and nefarious activities of the illegalmuslim criminals who have infiltrated MAHA, in their millions from the neighbouring countries.What are they doing in India, apart from building Madrassas,carrying out isalmists subversive activities and openly providing succour to the terrorists.Do not paper over the symptoms but tackle the causes, of this cancerous conundrum. What the defender, has stated in a coded language,is that understand the magnitute of the problem, realise the practicality and act, otherwise the peoples power will take action, borne out of frustration and hopelessness. Congress Govt is weak and inept, they have failed to redress the injustice suffered by the Marathis, at the hands of these underclass jihadi chancers.Steralise them now,before they steralise you.
I do not think Raj referred to North Indians in general. He referred to people of UP and Bihar who are brought to Mumbai by their leaders to create hegemoney by claiming rights for their own people over local citizen's rights. Being "poor" does not bestow rights to them over local population.
This writer is hopeless. He is saying Raj Thakery is right..........The quality of journalist with Express group seems to be very poor
YES RAJ HAS HIT THE NAIL SQUARELY ON THE HEAD AS NORTH INDIAN DADAGIRI HAS TO STOPLALITHA AS A MAHARASHTRIAN I AM TOLERANT BUT CANNOT SEE THE SLUMS BEING DEVELOPED BY SLUM LORDS AND BY MUSCLE FLEXING