The vandalism unleashed by the legislators of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in the State Assembly to protest against Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi taking the oath in Hindi is plain barbarism. Most of the MNS activists and other so-called protectors of the “Marathi pride,” I am sure, send their wards to English medium schools. It is time the Centre took stringent measures against those who divide people in the name of language.
V.K. Nair,
Thrissur
Although four MLAs of the MNS have been suspended from the Assembly for four years, their actions have not been condemned unequivocally. National parties, including the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, do not seem to have taken the incident with the seriousness it deserves.
V.S. Sankaran,
Madurai
We call Maoists the biggest threat to internal security. But I think politicians like Raj Thackeray pose a greater threat.
The parochial mindset of some sections of the Marathi-speaking population is equally responsible for the acts orchestrated by the MNS.
Sakshi Abrol,
New Delhi
Have the MNS and the Shiv Sena forgotten that India is a land where Gandhian principles are followed? We have been witnessing acts of internal terrorism in Maharashtra for the past three days, the latest being the Sena’s disruption of proceedings demanding the arrest and suspension of Mr. Azmi.
R. Nivedita,
Erode
While the attack on Mr. Azmi needs to be condemned, one does not understand his adamant stand against taking the oath in Marathi. Leaders should set an example in sustaining a language in its place of birth.
S. Venkat Reddy,
Hyderabad
The attitude of the Hindi-speaking people is equally to blame for the heightened tensions in Maharashtra. The Centre should clarify that Hindi is not our national language as per the Constitution.
J. Victor Rajasekaran,
Chennai
