POLITICS OF VIOLENCE & HATE

Act 1: MNS MLA’s beat Abu Azmi, Samajwadi Party MLA in the Maharashtra assembly
Reason: For taking oath in Hindi and supposedly insulting the pride of ‘Marathi Manoos’

Act 2: Bal Thackarey warns Sachin Tendulkar in Shiv Sena’s mouth piece ‘Saamna’
Reason: For Sachin considering himself an Indian first instead of a Maharashtrian

Act 3: Shiv Sena goons vandalize IBN office (News Channel) & attack journalists
Reason: For showing true stories of Bal Thackarey’s politics

All the above incidents underline the chilling reality that haunts Maharashtra politics; Politics of Violence

Bal Thackarey has built his political career on the premise of violence & hate for over four decades. It began in the 60’s when he spearheaded the hate campaign against south Indians in Maharashtra. But the real rise of Thackarey was seen in the 90’s when he incited his party workers to kill Muslims in the aftermath of the Babri Mosque demolition. Sadly his party, the Shiv Sena along with ally BJP captured power for the first time in Maharashtra in 1995. This was the first election in the state after the Hindu-Muslim riots of 1992-93 and the 1993 Bombay blast. Known for his controversial politics, Thackarey has through out his political career not only spoken against Muslims, north Indian & south Indian but also appreciated the acts of violence carried out by his party workers.

Following his foot steps is his estranged nephew Raj Thackarey, the supremo of MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena). Raj might have drifted away from his uncle and started his own separate political outfit, but when it comes to violent methods the nephew has surely made his uncle proud. From 2006 onwards Raj’s MNS workers have constantly attacked north Indians (U.Ps & Biharis). And now with his goons also entering the Maharashtra Assembly and demonstrating on the very first day their idea of politics, things do not look any better

The only silver lining has been voters’ rejection of Bal Thackeray’s brand of politics. That is precisely the reason for senior Thackeray’s frustration. Both uncle and nephew are now fighting for the common cause and stooping down to reprehensible violent methods to endorse their ideology. Bal Thackeray is at the fag end of his political journey. All this while he hoped that his son and executive-president of Shiv Sena, Uddav Thackeray would carry forward his legacy. But Uddhav lacked Thackeray Snr charisma which gave his cousin Raj the perfect opportunity to tap.

The biggest factor for the rise of the Thackeray’s is with out any element of doubt the Congress. From the 70’s till date Congress which was always in power deliberately ignored the ring leaders who have led and spearheaded hate campaigns against different communities. Throughout the Congress has acted as a mute spectator.
Come 2006, Raj Thackeray’s MNS restored to the same violent methods The Congress led government remained a mute spectator again. It was only when the situation got out of hand completely and after much criticism not only from different parts of the country but international media did the government arrest Raj. But the Congress eventually succeeded in its goal. By letting Raj grow into a monster it was able to divide the Marathi vote which directly benefited the Congress. Thanks to Raj, Congress-NCP combine is back in power. Today both Shiv Sena and the MNS have the audacity to attack anyone, anywhere in Maharashtra. It doesn’t matter whether you are a student or a taxi driver or a journalist or a corporate worker or a common man. It is all about intimidation and cheap publicity at any cost. So what if Shiv Sena’s influence is eroding? Bal Thackeray still considers himself a tiger against no one can speak but mind you, he can speak against anyone like a dictator. Similarly Raj with just 12% of the vote share holds the right to beat any north Indian for not knowing Marathi or rather not respecting Marathi pride. So is the Congress going to stop them? To kill one monster it has to let the other one grow into an even bigger one!!

Unfortunately, Maharashtra is slowly becoming synonymous with the Thackareys; thanks to their ‘hate’ politics. This state has given India stalwarts from different walks of life. From cricketers like Gavaskar & Tendulkar to artists like Lata Mangeshkar & Madhuri Dixit to social actvists like Medha Patkar, Anna Hazare & Baba Apte to army General Arun Shridhar Vaidya. It’s a sad irony that the man who empowered every Indian with the freedom to speak in any language, follow any religion & work in any region was also a Maharashtrian. That man was none other than the architect of the Indian constitution- Babasaheb Ambedkar.