Raj Thackeray, best known as Bal Thackeray’s nephew, launched his own party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, last March. Ever since, his party has not had a successful run. Is his recent tirade against the UPites, another ploy to gain instant success?
RAJ THACKERAY, the name, which in the last two days has drawn a lot of flak nationwide, started his political career as a youth-wing leader in the Shiv Sena,
Bal Thackeray’s (his uncle’s) party. He steadily rose up the ranks with his charisma and was seen as the number two in the party. However, this was before Uddhav Thackeray (Bal Thackeray’s son) entered the scene.
Reportedly, as insiders claim, Raj’s decline in the Shiv Sena started in the 90s due to his alleged involvement in the Ramesh Kinny murder case (seen as a political murder). As a result, Bal Thackeray pushed his youngest son Uddhav into the limelight.
Always seen as a firebrand speaker, Raj was well known in the Sena for his aggressive ways to hold demonstrations and bandhs. However, recently it seems, he has bit more than he could chew. His recent outbursts against migrants from
Uttar Pradesh (UP) and
Bihar are totally unconstitutional and uncalled for.
Does he want to divide
India on the lines of states of origin?
He shouldn’t forget that it took the efforts of one man, better known as the iron man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to integrate the erstwhile 600 princely states into one dominion, India. Is Raj’s agenda to again disintegrate India - at least his idea of Jai Maharashtra, makes one believe so. If he really wants to be a national political figure and command respect, shouldn’t his slogan be “Jai Bharat”?
Maharashtra is an integral part of India. Any Indian or for that matter any foreigner, with correct antecedents has the right to work and earn a living in
Maharashtra as long as the person is contributing to the nation (and not just Maharashtra). However, it seems that Raj Thackeray, either doesn’t have the political finesse or is incompetent to deal with issues that are much more serious than this trivial issue.
What has he done for the farmers committing suicide in Maharashtra and Gujarat? Or, since he is more concerned about Maharashtra, at least for the farmers in Maharashtra? What has he done about the welfare of the Maharashtrians?
His sympathisers might say that he doesn’t have the power. But is Raj fit enough to be given the power, with his evident play of divisive politics? His acerbic tirade against the icon of Indian cinema,
Amitabh Bachchan, cast aspersions against Raj’s frame of mind? His question is what has Amitabh Bachchan done for Maharashtra?
The writer’s question is what have you done for Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray?
When the Indian cinema was dying in the late seventies and eighties, it was Amitabh Bachchan’s movies that gave bread and butter to thousands of technicians, junior artistes, carpenters and painters, including Maharashtrians (though the writer prefers to call them Indians).
What has been your contribution to the nation’s or your Maharashtra’s economy, Raj Thackeray?
With the photos of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s activists rioting, vandalising and spreading hooliganism in Dadar area in Maharashtra, are you really concerned about Maharashtra? The damage to public property means additional expenditure for Maharashtra’s government to resurrect it, are you ready to pay for the damage to the government. Moreover, are you really a well wisher of Maharashtra? What about your alleged irregularity of funds in Kohinoor Mills’ deal?
Lastly, how can Maharashtrians even think of giving you an electoral mandate, when you, in a cowardly act (universally condemned), send your activists (or hooligans) to throw bottles at Amitabh Bachchan’s house?
With the conscience of most of the politicians dead in this age of power, fame and wealth, it will indeed be heartening to see, if this letter touches your conscience somewhat and renders an apology from you, for your unpardonable divisive act targeted at our secular nation, India.