It has been more than a decade since Bombay became Mumbai by the decision of a democratically elected state government. Our champions of national integration, cosmopolitism and every progressive concept on earth, our media that is, however have not yet reconciled to the development. The very idea of the triumph of Maharashtrian values, culture, identity and aspirations over their own constructs that find meaning and relevance in the corruptions institutionalized by colonial rulers is unbearable to our media. Hence these perverts prefer to pointedly refer to Mumbai as Bombay in their articles and reports; on the other hand even the Brits seem to have no problems with Mumbai. Contrast this reluctance to abide by the decision of a democratically elected government with the alacrity with which these intellectual thugs bow to the wishes of the jehadis. A few years back the jehadis issued a terse order to our media warning them of dire consequences if they are referred to the jehadis as terrorists; they were to be referred as militants. Our tough media types lost no time in implementing the wishes of the jehadis. Terrorists became militants overnight gaining stature, prestige and glory. It was not until 9/11 and the subsequent crackdown on terrorist activities that the media types could revert to using the word terrorist. The point is denying Maharashtrian culture, language etc. their due respect have become the cause celebre of upholding a perverted cosmopolitanism.
The pathetic juvenile antics of these intellectual thugs, however don’t stop there. According to our media, Mumbai and now even Maharashtra belong all Indians, except of course, the Maharasthrians. Anyone and everyone can just pack their bags and head for Mumbai and Maharashtra to contribute to the growing economy etc etc. Of course, everyone has the right to come in from anywhere and settle down anywhere in the state – a right that is now sounding increasingly Shylockian in the context of the utter disregard even contempt for the welfare of the sons of the soil. Those who invoke this right to support unrestrained migration from all over India into Maharashtra don’t care to understand that such rights are rights of individuals and there is a qualitative difference in the migration of individuals and the migration of crores of individuals. No state can be expected to bear the consequences of unlimited migration from other states. Biharis and UP ites have rights to settle down in Maharashtra, but does Bihar and UP have the right to migrate to Maharshtra, which is what is happening? It ultimately boils down to numbers, yes a limited number of people coming is fine even beneficial in many respects, but tens of crores? And yes, how about the migrants honoring their part of the deal- the responsibility that goes with the right?
Human beings are not just their physical presence there are other intangible aspects to consider too like values, attitudes, mentality, and so on. Migrants bring their values, attitudes etc. with them and these are often at odds with the values of the host population.
This difference was articulated a few months back by a North Indian Lt. Governor of Delhi Tejinder Khanna. At a public meeting in New Delhi, Khanna articulated the difference in traffic discipline between the north and south and opined that people from north take it as a privilege to break the law. Can those who are accustomed to the privilege of breaking the law in their own state be expected to uphold the law in other states? Have we not witnessed all too often the breakdown of law, order, convention, rules, regulations and so on all across the north? The mass brutality unleashed on the Sikhs right in the capital, the depredations of the Lalus Yadavs, the Pandhers and others, the arrogance of the Nandas and the Ansals and eminently forgettable sons of politicos that shoot bargirls? So when people who come in from the north, take up residence in our state and then start flexing political muscle, are we not justified in questioning what will happen to our state once the migrant population reaches a critical mass? So if Bihar and UP are in a total mess, how long will it take for Maharashtra to meet the same fate? There are stark examples – the north eastern states reeling under the impact of migrants from across the border – a migration, nay an invasion abetted by none other than the government at the centre. There are pointers of what is to come even in Maharashta – in the last election, a popular North Indian Bollywood star got elected from the North Mumbai constituency – thanks to the increasing clout of the North Indian voter, defeating Ram Naik, a Maharashtrian politician with an impressive record of serving the constituency. Today, balancing the demands of Bollywood and politics the actor turned politician goes about slapping visitors on sets in full view of the cast and crew. Incidentally, it is the MNS that is standing up for the visitor who was at the receiving end of the Bollywood politician’s arrogance.
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