Raj 'Saheb' Thackeray

Raj Thackeray is in the headlines again. Saheb’s recent rally at Azad maidan and aftermath has made me to present my views. I have been getting calls, texts about what Raj saheb was up to. Apart from that there have been jokes/ disturbing comments circulating in social media on him. I decided not to react and better adopt this way of putting my views, so that I can reach out to larger audience.

I believe Politics today is leadership driven rather than ideology, because ideology can change with time. Also everyone who has political affinity towards a particular party do not share cent percent ideology of that party but they definitely have cent percent faith in the leadership of the party. Like many of his followers I too am fascinated by Raj Saheb Thackery. By having said so, I do not share all of his ideologies. There are points on which I disagree with him completely. But these are my opinions and they have changed gradually over years. Two years back, I was a strong MNS supporter and was ready to adopt their ‘style’ of dealing with situations but now having spent two years in Uttar Pradesh I have mellowed down.I had lot of discussion, debates with my counterparts in UP and changed my views on certain aspect. I have started thinking rationally and analysing situations rather than being emotionally driven. But these things do not cease my loyalty towards MNS. Let me now take up some of the issues which crop up and people from across the country or globe for that matter, bother me on what is happening in Mumbai.

Migration: I beg to disagree with Saheb on this issue, I believe that any Indian can go anywhere and has the right to earn his livelihood. In most of the cases, it is not of choice that people migrate, circumstances force them to do so. Saheb, if everyone get opportunity of food, education, employment in their own state believe me they won’t migrate. But this ain’t true. The problem lies in the fact that these opportunities are not sufficient in any part of India, be it Bihar or for that matter Maharashtra. Though, the percentage is less still a lot of people from Maharashtra are migrating to UP, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka. So migration is inevitable.  Saheb, if you think this city can’t take load of so many people then efforts should be put on developing infrastructure. Adopt policies like Kerala did on Inter-state migration act of 1979. Illegal migrations should be dealt with severely be it from UP/Bihar/Gujarat or Tamil Nadu. Only then would this problem be addressed in true sense.

Communal Disharmony: I really feel amused when I hear people calling saheb a traitor or agent of communal disharmony. It is not true. Lot of this attribute goes to irresponsible media who under pretext of having right of freedom and expression really misuses this right. They have from the inception have portrait saheb as villan. People who have been staying in Maharashtra be it from any caste or creed or linguistic background can very well take this question. Media should understand what he speaks along with its context. Sometimes when you take statement and put it without the context it is bound to create misunderstanding. If somebody does not understand what he speaks then please ask someone who know Marathi, if you cannot find someone ask me. I shall be more than happy to translate it.

Game of TRPs: It is indeed very sad to see that for TRPs media are not behaving responsibly. They are NEWS channel and not VIEWS channel. Role of media is to present facts and then leave it to audience for their judgement and conclusions. But some of the media plays it other way round causing saheb’s image to tarnish and try to defame him. If for such things saheb threatens the media then I believe such threat is justified. Also, please note a very important thing, he has just threatened and has not done anything till date to any media.

Pakistani/Bangladeshi artist: Recently, saheb ‘requested’ some producers not to allow Pakistani and Bangladeshi artist to participate in their show. Again this statement created a lot of fuss in media. Initially I did not agree to saheb’s statement but then when I heard his reasoning it sounded logical and rational to me. His reasoning was that if they ban such artist, there is a possibility that they would in turn go to their country and talk to their country heads that because of your action we have to bear the brunt, chances are that they might stop their activities. This may or may not happen but there is nothing wrong in adopting this way.  When Jayalalitha stopped Sri Lankan players from playing in Tamil Nadu, no one took this up neither with central government nor did any media hold talk show on this issue.

Toll Bandh/ Mumbai Police: Saheb has recently addressed some real issues of Mumbai. Issues that bother each and every Mumbai-kar. MNS received a great support from the citizen in various initiatives carried out addressing the issue of un-regularized tolls in Mumbai. State Government is under lot of pressure to deal with this issue as they still haven’t found a solution for this problem. Saheb came out in total support of Mumbai Police recently and extended his support to police in proper functioning of the city. Result of this was that after his speech ended a policeman walked up to saheb and gave him a rose as mark of respect and love. This act shows that he knows the pulse of his audience.

I have presented my point of view in this blog, people may or may not agree to this and it is absolutely fine with me. Please do share your suggestions with me. This is my first attempt in presenting by views this way. Had it been two years back, I would have done it in a true MaNaSainik form J

Jai Hind Jai Maharashtra !!