Mumbai is special for me because I got my first posting there. I cannot forget the delight of travelling in local trains, the monsoon, the sea, prawns, the malls of Navi Mumbai, the Ganesh festival and most of all, the people.
The spirit of Mumbai is almost palpable.
Which is why I feel sad at the way MNS and Shiv Sena are going about their business of poisoning innocent minds in their race for capturing the Marathi vote bank. I am reminded of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq and his so called Tughlaqi commands and decisions which always backfired. Is there lack of genuine concern that so much politics is being cooked over the artifical fire of regionalism? Are words like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, human trafficking, child labour archaic? If MNS and Shiv Sena argue that they are fighting for rights of Marathis, I beg to differ because one's right is another's duty. In giving rights to Marathis, these fanatic bodies are stealing those from non- Marathis. What will become of being an Indian?
Its time for the Marathis to stand up and defend the rights of their brethren instead of remaining quiet about the dirty politics that is being played on their name.
I admire people like Shahrukh Khan, Amir Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bacchan, Mukesh Ambani, Rahul Gandhi and others who have the guts to speak the truth. Fanatics can do only one thing best- fan the flames of fanaticism. As educated and well aware Indians, people from all over the country must not let narrow concerns govern us. Being silent isn't being brave but akin to supporting injustice.
