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Poisonous campaign

Imitation is the best form of flattery and Raj Thackeray, president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has made it a fine art. His copycat anti-outsider agitation is on a par with what the Shiv Sena did 40 years ago in a much more violent fashion. The Sena too was treated with great indulgence by the Congress, which was reluctant to punish its leaders even after the damning Srikrishna Commission report on the Mumbai riots of 1992-93. It is not surprising that the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition in the State is extending the same benevolence to Raj. If it wasn’t for some stern talking from the Central government, the ruling coalition would have continued to drag its feet. The mere suggestion that Raj be arrested under the National Security Act is being opposed with a vehemence that has not been brought to condemning his actions. The government claims that his arrest in February took place in record time. However, no charge sheet is in sight. After his second arrest, Raj was in custody for a mere night. The city and suburbs almost shut down fearing violence.

It is a sorry reflection on the state of politics in Maharashtra that the ‘sons of the soil’ campaign theme is not seen as belonging to the periphery or fringe; it is mainstream. No one wants to be seen opposing such a toxic agenda, which is why State Revenue Minister Narayan Rane and NCP leaders like Praful Patel, Union Cabinet Minister, have defended it stoutly. Politically, the Congress has never had a strong agenda to tackle communalism or regional chauvinism. By sitting on the fence it hopes to garner a chunk of Marathi votes, or at worst ensure that they are divided between the MNS and the Shiv Sena. Either way, the tacit support for the MNS within the Congress stands exposed. From the 1970s, successive governments have been making noises about a reservation policy for local people. While the Congress has never gone against the sentiments of the majority, its ally, the NCP, is sending confusing signals on this issue and its design is not clear. The MNS agitation has forced the Shiv Sena to reiterate its agenda for the ‘Marathi manoos,’ though for electoral reasons the Sena will not go against north Indians now. With Assembly elections due next year, Maharashtra is poised for some interesting realignments and the ‘sons of the soil’ pie will be up for grabs once again. The long-term damage to Maharashtra’s political evolution, of course, has been enormous.

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