Every time the Shiv Sena and the MNS have gone on the rampage in the city, the State government, police and even media have been mute bystanders
Saturday’s violence by Muslim youth has shaken Mumbai. This is probably the first time that policemen have borne the brunt of the violence — of the 63 injured, 58 are policemen. What kind of mob has the guts to attack the police and think it can get away with it? A Muslim social worker has filed a complaint with the police against the organisers for instigating the public; a Muslim lawyer has gone to the High Court with the same demand. The police have so far arrested 23, charged them with murder and other offences, and set up a Special Investigation team (SIT) to probe the sudden outburst of violence. With tons of visual evidence, it won’t be difficult to identify the rioters.
The questions
Despite all these steps, some questions remain. Is it not the organisers’ responsibility to control the crowd they mobilise and ensure that no inflammatory speeches are made? Why aren’t they being arrested, specially since one of the organisers has a record of instigating violence? Why has the man who made the inflammatory speech not been arrested?
Second: why has this flurry of activity not been seen on all the other occasions that mobs have “burnt Mumbai”? While this may be the first time that the police has been targeted, it’s not the first time the media or BEST buses or cars have been vandalised. Indeed, in the last two months, Mumbai has seen frequent displays of such hooliganism. On May 31, observing the National Democratic Alliance-called Bharat Bandh, Shiv Sainiks damaged 42 BEST buses. This despite the chairman and seven of the 17 BEST Committee members being Shiv Sainiks. The chairman explained away the vandalism by saying that “protesters become uncontrollable” on such occasions, and demurred when asked if his party would pay for the damage.
Mid-June saw the new saviour of the Marathi Manoos “kick-off” a campaign against the payment of toll tax. Within 72 hours, three toll nakas were vandalised. Visuals of those actions are pretty similar to videos of Saturday’s violence — the same iron rods, the same smashing of glass. But there was one important difference. After the violence, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLA Shishir Shinde declared in audibly slurred tones, his party’s intention to destroy toll nakas. The police obligingly waited till he finished addressing TV cameras before taking him away in their van. Saturday’s videos had no such bravado — after smashing everything in sight, the topi-clad youth could be seen fleeing for dear life from police lathis. Two youngsters died in the ensuing firing.
The fallout of the two incidents however, may not be too different. Today, an MNS sticker on your car can exempt you from paying toll. And last week, the Maharashtra Chief Minister gave an audience to the man behind the violent anti-toll agitation. Accompanying Raj Thackeray at the meeting with the CM was Shishir Shinde. Two days after Saturday’s violence, Maharashtra’s Home Minister gave a clean chit to one of the organisers of Saturday’s rally, the Raza Academy. Don’t be surprised if the outfit’s chief, Maulana Saeed Noorie, is soon seen sharing the stage with R.R. Patil, Congress Minister Naseem Khan and other influential members of our government. After all, Eid is just round the corner. Had the violence not taken place, the rally’s leading lights would have attended the CM’s iftaar scheduled for Saturday evening.
However, those who rioted aren’t getting the same treatment that Shiv Sainiks and MNS rioters do. It can be argued that attacking the police is more serious than attacking public property. But attacking unarmed citizens only because they belong to a particular faith or region — is that less serious? The MNS’s attacks on North Indians, all televised, are just four years old. Two innocents were killed then. When the National Human Rights Commission directed the State to pay compensation of Rs.5 lakh each to the victims’ families, the government spoke of financial problems. Incidentally, the MNS’s unique way of protecting Marathi pride in 2008 cost the State a loss of Rs.500 crore. As for the Shiv Sena’s record of targeting, often fatally, unarmed South Indians, Muslims, mediapersons, Valentine’s Day lovers, rickshaw drivers — it would be insulting the readers’ intelligence to list the details.
Looking back
Police failure to anticipate and prevent Saturday’s violence is indeed blameworthy. But what’s new? When the Mumbai police has had indications of Sena-led violence, has it ever tried to prevent it? Forget the 1992-93 riots. In December 2010, the Pune police, apprehending violence at a protest called by the Sena, tapped Sena leaders’ phones and heard Milind Narvekar, Uddhav Thackeray’s PA, instruct Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe (a former Socialist) to gather a mob, burn buses and inform TV channels. Everything went according to plan; 54 buses were burnt. Pune’s Police Commissioner repeated the Maharashtra police’s time-honoured motto: “Preventive arrests would have aggravated the situation” and R.R. Patil supported her, saying the police’s priority was to “safeguard law and order and protect the public.”
When Meenatai Thackeray’s statue was desecrated on a Sunday in July 2006, the Sena ran amok. The same man produced another gem: “If the violence continues on Monday, the police will take action.”
After the Sena attacked the IBN Lokmat office in 2009, senior journalist Kumar Ketkar, whose house had been earlier attacked by Nationalist Congress Party supporters because he had dared criticise the plan to set up a Shivaji statue in the middle of the Arabian Sea, told a news channel: “Mumbai has not become feeble, Mumbai has become used to [such violence]. It was in 1966 when the Shiv Sena was born and ever since Maharashtra has been used to this culture. The Shiv Sena worship and encourage violence. So Mumbai’s youth become more and more involved in this and this is a very dangerous trend.”
The Muslim youth who went on a rampage on Saturday are also part of Mumbai. Maybe they felt they would be treated like their Hindutva counterparts.
Their leaders, knowing that’s not possible, have tendered cringing apologies on TV and asked the culprits to turn themselves in. Imagine any of the Thackerays or Togadias doing that. On the contrary, the celebrity columnists and indignant TV anchors now foaming at the mouth at “Mumbai burning” see nothing wrong in conducting long interviews with the Thackerays, where the latter brazenly defend their tactics.
(The author is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.)
Keywords: Assam riots, Mumbai violence, Azad Maidan, Mumbai police, mob fury, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, MNS, Maharashtra politics
Long gone are the days of Satyagraha & Ahimsa. Our so called leaders are busy setting
their political careers right & in doing so are endangering the rights & freedom of the
people of this country. It's high time that we Open our eyes & see, Open our mind &
think and decide for ourselves what's right & what's not. Rise above Hatred & free
ourselves from the slavery of caste-ism & racism. Only then we will be free in the true
sense!!! Kudos to this journalist, for simply keeping the values of 'True Journalism'.
What was the provocation for the "peaceful" protestors to destroy the Amar Jawan Memorial? Let the learned author explain.
This is truly a situation that we are caught in everywhere, some politicians have a right to riot among the many other rights they violently and blatantly claim at the cost of the people. It is indeed shameful that the police play to the machinations of such politicians and standby watching criminals at play. How can any country or government justify using the tax payers money to burn and riot and cause inconvenience to those very people.
"The Muslim youth who went on a rampage on Saturday are also part of Mumbai. Maybe they felt they would be treated like their Hindutva counterparts. "
They are not Muslims. They are Bangladeshi migrants. We don't care about their religion. They need to sent back to their country where they belong. It must not be compared but must be dealt accordingly. Destruction of public property must not be tolerated in name of religion.
Did you see the "Amar Jawan Jyoti" that was destroyed ? Was it fair ?
Is Punwani actually saying "Forget 1992-93 riots." We have never heard it before from her. Usually, her pieces have two stock names: Srikrishna Commission and Shiv Sena. No different this. She simply forgets Sena or MNS did not vandalise the police and certainly not on this scale. These guys were armed to kill and when they were not, they grabbed SLRs from the cops and aimed it at anything. Whats the diff between them and Kasab? The abused the cops, molested women cops, in short, stopped at nothing. Torching so many vehicles in such a small area is unheard of since 1992-93.
This was nothing short of terrorism, which in Punwani's lingo, is acceptable because the terrorists are aggrieved, you see. The Hindus dont have any right to be aggrieved. God forbid if it hits home, Punwani. You will then understand. Feel free to whine about the Sena till then.
Thank you, for this article..Hope, Mumbai learns to live peacefully by closing its romantic ties with Shiv Sena and its brothers. After all, is it not the people of Mumbai, who elect Shivsena in every zCorporatio9n elections? What is the polling percentage recorded in the latest local body elections? Are not the people of Mumbai, who are party to the violence by not speaking against in elections through their votes? Why are we blaming the police and political leaders always? Are we too afraid to look inwards?
Great article. Timely and bold indeed. Thanks Jyoti Punwani for bringing out bitter facts which noone wants to hear.
Despite all these cogent arguments, as a Muslim I do feel that the onus lies on Muslims becasue irrespective of the cause of riots Muslims have always been blamed for it, though historically they have been at the receiving end. Not only the whole community is defamed but common Muslim youth is harassed by Police.
It behooves Muslim leadership to engage in more constructive activities and empower community with education and professional credentials. Sure, this is easier said than done and would take longer time but would provide much needed concrete solution to the current vulnerability of Muslims.
Common Muslims also need to saty away from such demogouges and focus more on personal upliftment.
A very informative piece. Some activists of the Raza Academy seem to be really
behind it for making inflammatory speeches. Just because they have the support of
the Chief Minister, the Home Minister and Naseem Khan, they are being protected.
You will see all of them at the Eid parties very soon to be organised by the pro-
establishment leadership.
One comment: Two wrongs never make a right. I feel there is overwhelming tone of
justification of one wrong by citing other in this article.
This article compares the act of rioting and other illegitimate activities with the previous onces that has been done by Shiv sena and MNS.waht does it mean everybdy Would start abusing public properties just keeping in their mind that they will not be punished..
Its the opportunistic politics which iw flourishing nowadays is not in the national and humanity interest !!!
This is the reason, why I prefer “The Hindu” over other print media. This article shows that the true journalism still exist in our country
Absolutely bang on target. Violence in any form is unavoidable. But can anything justify the loss of two lives? This is the clear double standard and hypocrisy of police department. What makes it more worst is that it encircled a community which gathers to protest against system to help the others. I believe not a single person gathered there would be having any personal benefit out of it but still they have courage to put their lives in danger. This is an indication that one of the important community of our country is extremely dissatisfied with the current practice of government and other national bodies.
The author needs to understand that this was turning an anti-nation
protest, which by all means should be acted upon by police in an very
stern manner to set an example. Very pathetic article by the author.
Some people in this country try to portray them as secular but instead
end up in being pseudo-secular.
Very well presented.I am a muslim and no true muslim will justify the acts, and vandalism that took place.
This is not a way to protest, Islam never teaches these behaviours. People got instigated by seeing the images, which any human will if they see the images circulated out there. Protesting, marching, demanding governments intervention to force UN to look into the plight of mass killings,signing petition of the masses and submitting it to the president would have been the ideal way. With violence nothing can be achieved. But my frieds, people in Assam are not migrants and even if they are, its not entirely. And if they are migrant it does not mean one has the right to kill them. If we are trying to justify this then we are indirectly justifying the killings of our Indian brothers and sisters in foreign countries(Australia, US,..)
But, it is indeed very true that the behaviour of police/government under situations described above shows the hypocrisy of the government/police.
A very well written article , it just shows us how the Mumbai crowds are
being controlled. Though the motives of ShivSena , MNS were genuine but
they are made to react in violent manner so as to maintain their fear in
public. Amidst, the recent violence was similar show by their muslim
counterparts. Its sad even after 65 years of independence, regionalism,
communalism is killing our “One Nation”
The Article shows clear lack of understanding of ground situation.Comments made sitting in Ivory tower may not reflect the heat felt by the commoners on the road. Any one roaming on Mumbai roads and travelling in Local trains can clarify for you the difference between what happened on Azad maidan and what MNS and Shivsena does almost regularly. The wildness that common people saw around Azad maidan, the venue for some or other protest on almost every single day, was poles apart. Saving yourself from the stones being thrown at moving local trains was terrifying. The news that guns like SLRs and AKs been looted and being brandished was horrendous and molestation of women in uniform was sickening.
Either ways what either side does the ultimate sufferers are common Mumbaikars.
Damage to public property is anti-national whether committed by Muslim youths or Shiv Sainiks. Any violence is anti-national whether it is demolition of Babri Masjid or desecretion of national monuments. Attacking innocent people is terrorism whether it is the Muslims in Gujarat or policemen of Mumbai. Even selective punishment for crimes is ant-national because it feeds fuel to the fire of hatred and extremism. Hindus and Indian Muslims have to live side by side. So let them respect one another and treat one another with impartiality. Otherwise India will become a feudal state.
What a true story......
keep it-up.
Interesting......Shiv Sena does not do riots against India while thse Muslim youth were certainly anti-Indians i.e. traitors.....do you see the difference Ms. Punwani? Or you are just sold out like rest of the journalists?
Bangladeshis are rioting against Indians on Indian land and these Muslims in India are rioting in support of Bangladeshis. Do you not see the difference?
I differ over the opinion put forth by the author. By stating some
nebulous facts author taking the discussion haywire.
Moot Point of discussion should be, why muslims vandalize
property/people/Amar jawan monument, for something happening in
different part of world (on the same line, riots happened in
bangladesh after 1992 babri demolition)
And them if again something will happen in retort then again muslims
would be sufferers.(like gujrat riots). Innocent people will suffer
for act of few.
Point is parochial attitude of Muslims is harmful to themselves and
other.
Instead of taking bull by the horns author is trying to evade real
bitter question.
"Do muslims put forth their religion first even before humanity
(forget about nation)"
The author makes an unwarranted comparison!! The mob here is anti-national. How long do we need to keep quiet? Shivesena has no respect but on what pretext does Shivsena issue come into play when you compare a mob that desecrates national army's memorial. This article is rubbing salt into wounds of the many Indians. Hindu has clearly crossed the limits of secular outlook. Significant sections of Muslims have time and again shown the support to religion over nation and this clearly is the burning issue and will not resolve with such articles that do not focus on the real problem. Burning buses was done by many government employees under the pretext of strike and regional hooligans. But under no comparison, such mobs compare to the anti-national hooligans who will not hesitate to use religion pride to desecrate the army memorial.
Jyoti Punwani's ancestors may have escaped from Pakistan to India. However, as the Islamic fundamentalism is rising in India, there will be no escape for Hindus like her.
what the author is saying is that because
shiv sena has done it in the past, therefore what the muslims have done
is justified. jyoti punwani is completely silent on the desecration of
amar jawan jyoti.
I totally agree with the author. I think the organisers should be asked to provide all the participants’ details and charge them for crimes as well as they must pay for the damages to the city they have caused.
This is exactly what these Mullas has been doing for the last 66 years. Is this organisation able to tell us how many Indian Muslims are going through with what situations educationally, economically and so on. If not what made these lunatics to protest for a country far away?
While I am writing these lines my head is bowed down in shame once again as I follow the religion of Islam. But I wonder how many of these people really follow the religion. The Prophet of the religion of Islam said that “if you angry, while you are standing then sit down, if you angry and you are sitting down then go and do ablution as the watery may cool your anger and if it still does not make you calm go to bed and have rest as it may bring calm to you.” What a shame.
It is true that these situations demonstrate the polarised behavior of people but india is united at every front of harmony.Neither a group of ill motivated politicians nor a section of fundamentalists can demolish its unity.
The author is making bizzare justification for violence in Mumbai. What is her point? If Sena goons can torch BEST buses and get away, she wants similar opportunity for Muslim youths to torch buses. Is there some sort of competition out there in Mumbai for molesting women cops, torching police vehicles and damaging public property? Does she want us to cheer the misguided Muslim youths for this mindless mob rage. Is the author also desperately seeking a communal confrontation in Mumbai just to prove a point. As a ruling alliance MP warned on the floor of the Lok Sabha.
Great article. Thank you for exposing the glaring hypocrisies that are endemic in our society.
The article is well presented but equally true is that on prima-facie its seems in support of one or the other political organization. Nevertheless we should concentrate upon the fact presented by the article which unfortunately is true. We should raise above the regionalism and religionism. Infact the agitation should not only be raised by muslim but need to be supported by all the class of the citizen. Violence if taking place in any part of the India is cause of concern for everyone. as neither we are mumbaian nor delhities. but Indian. but the manner in which it was protested is a cause of concern. As violence in one part cannot be condemned by violence on other part. these type of violent rally will not solve the problem but infact it will help in spreading the problem across the country. We are living in a democratic country and we have various other means in raising the social problem and compel the government to take necessary measures
i whould like to think that these riots were justified at some level.but
the violence should never have been done.it is a complete failure of the
police to take control of it.we have to understand that police is the
first and last shield in cases like this.i have full sympathy for muslim
youths,since they were protesting against killing of common muslims in
assam and burma.
This riot was not viewed as the same as earlier riots. It is assumed from reliable sources that it was the preplanned one, since they came with lethal weapons, like guns, etc. This must be snipped in the bud.
What the MNS or SS does, will never justify the same to be done by any other. It is a matter of great shame that the speakers provoked the crowd into this. I am pretty sure that most of the crowd are non practising, ignorant and totally misguided. The problem is that most of the faith today is acquired from the mothers womb. The followers hardly ever try to acquire the true knowledge of the faith, which should actually forbid them from such acts.
@Pramod Patil
I agree with everything you wrote. However, there is one more detail: the violence in Assam was not against Muslims as such, but against alleged illegal Bangaladeshi immigrants. Many news reports have made this point very clear, and indicate that there is no communal friction to speak of in Assam. This is a point that Jyoti Punwani has carefully omitted. Sad, because the fact that the "Muslim youth" let loose their violence in support of illegal immigrants, that too in a distant region of the nation, strongly suggests that the violence was virtually a terrorist attack, and it could have been preplanned and sponsored by foreign based terrorists. It certainly was anti-national.
We must condemn the communal riot and people involved must be apprehended and punished severly.Last saturday riot was organised by Islamist force in connivance with communal and underworld organization.It is open secret.No one support the criminal activities of Shiv Sena.They all are criminals and have direct connection with congress ministry. Media must take serious action to expose the facts openly or else it will take a violent form in very near future.Mumbai is potentially a criminal hub of underworld mafias and foreign agency.
The most bold, fair and articulated article. It shows the impartial and unpartisan approach of Author, which is the sole pillar of journalism. Our so called giant Journalist and Anchors of our National TV should learn at least some thing from this Article, which is published in Hindu. Further the credit goes to “Hindu” which still maintains the spirit of journalism.
Even the articles are clad by communal colors now. It's valid to condemn violence by any group,but comparing a local problem induced mob, with a mob fighting for anti national issues, is not a fair play.Outsiders create problems in our country,and we let them a free passage.And ironically one group of Indians indulging in violence for them is shameful.Better to understand the difference of priorities between religion and nationalism.
I request Hindu ,By comparing it with other acts of violence , don't give credit to organizers .Whatever happened in Assam was an issue of illegal migrants .These protesters are trying to give it color of religion .We should stand against these illegal migrants , as they take our share.Hindus in Pakistan are also facing problem , but how many times Hindu community has protested in this manner. Desecration of army memorial is a very condemnable act also .
What else can be expected? Apologists of Islamic fundamentalism are out in force. Excellent work Hindu, keeping up with the reputation. Jyoti Punwani has shown the depth of her shallowness. Great insight or should I say incite?
I do agree with some of your points but your theory to prove yourself a
secular has given it a very "wrong face". Clearly shows a lack of
broader horizon with your side. Your article can lead to a difference of
opinion even among learned side of two faiths ie Hindu and muslim. And
one more thing the clean chit given to Raja academy shouldnt be
questioned. There is a very clean investigation into it.
One point that is totally missed in this article is about questioning the integrity of the protesters. None of the protests before have ever tried to destroy the memorials erected in the memory of soldiers who lost their lives in fighting for this country. None of them have hoisted a foreign country flag. This is totally unacceptable and dangerous for India. This is what makes the common man question the integrity of the protesters. And this is what makes us furious too. These culprits should be strongly punished or deported to the countries where their faith is.
The desecration of the amar javan is actually a serious act against the republic of india. The people responsible should be severely punished. Infact they should be stripped of their citizenship and thrown out of the country. The appeasement politics of the congress has gone far enough.
To Pavan Mankala, As a muslim we love our country as well as our religion, Plz note, our religion teaches us to be faithfull to your own country, who ever claims that he is a true muslim, he will not indulge himself in the war against his own country, becos it's against the teachings of islam. regarding the protest, in any decocratic country if the respective government will not take action against the injustice/masscares/killing of innocent people, irrespective of that community's majority or minority they will submit their protest to the Government to take action and to stop the injustice etc.
The acts of violence are really condemnable no doubt about it. I would like to point out a few things that are misunderstood. There is a propaganda that a Pakistani flag was carried on that day. In fact the symbol of Muslims is a crescent and a star with green color. The Pakistani flag is very similar to that but has a white strip. People should look at the available footage to find out that the two flags are different. It is really painful to see again and again that a segment of citizens has to explain their loyalty to nation. The benefit of such things always go to divisive forces.
"Very well written. This is the best ever column written in any newspaper in any language. This will help in restoring the secularism in India, which our constitution states and will restore the pride of the religious minorities and will help India regain its place in the world" - Probably just enough for the moderator to consider it worthy of publishing. Otherwise, I don't see any merit in any of the arguments author has made. From the article, it seems that the author has never gone to Mumbai at all. First go to the city, speak to people and then write. This is not some college essay assignment, for God's sake.
From the photographs and the videos, it is very evident that only 24
people were not involved. It was the complete crowd who did this. Also
what do you think they borrowed cigarate lighters to burn the vehicles?
NO. They were already prepared and had planned to create unrest in the
nation and destroy national property.
This article is trying to make it sound like Muslim rioters are more "moral/better" than Hindu or Marathi rioters. No rioter is better or more moral than another. A trouble maker is a trouble maker and they should be all punished, I don't care what their religion or political affiliation is. Also what happened on Saturday is far worse than the MNS toll naka incident, and I think MNS is a duffer party. Punish MNS, punish Shiv Sena goondas, punish these Raza Academy people.
The target of attack of Saturday's violence unleashed by the muslim
youths was mainly against the media and the police.Your above article
proves that they have achieved their aim as far as media is concerned.
Regarding police we have to wait and see.The other problem is the attackers are not readers of English daily. Hence it would be better
if Ms Punwani takes her message to the vernacular dailies of Mumbai
also
Reading between the lines, one can surmise that the Bombay police is incompetent even to manage the traffic flow in an one way street. Further the Bombay police is so scared of the political masters (past/present/future) that any party organised hoologanism is swept under the carpet. Finally they have no authority against person making inflammory speeches instigating the listeners to act in an unlawful fashion (Shinde). Thackerays (Shiv Sena and MNS) have made Bombay their backyard and the impotent Congress Government should take the blame for it. The muslim rally organisers are flexing their muscles.
Laws should be enacted to ensure that the Organisers or rallies indemnify the Government for any losses to public and private assets. Take the organisers to the cleaners once and the city will be rid of all those self proclaimed dadas.
The fly in the ointment is does the current Government in Central or in the state have the guts to do it.
I think, it is a good policy to ask the organisers to pay for the damages. The idea is simple: Any time, any group organizes a function which results violence, loss of property and life, the group is made to pay.
In this case Raza Academy should be made to pay for the damage.
Thank you for penning down the concerns that many of us share.
Although you raise valid points, as can be seen from other comments to
this article, it still seems that you represent a small minority.
People like Gopal, Abhinav, Amogh, Pavan and Pramod do not understand
that the mob riots do not represent a religion, or a community, but a
political party. India is perhaps the only "democracy" where the
parties do not represent the will of the people, but play on the
stereotypes and fears that people carry. The legislative and the
executive branches of the govt. at all levels is too closely
intertwined. Riots are nothing but public killings to remind people
that rather than govt. (by that I don't mean elected officials, but
the popular politicians *cough* Thakrey *cough*) being for the people,
people have to be for the govt. The only way to change things is for
the people to be educated. But, then again, education only leads us to
the realization that in India, politics is a lost cause.
We need stricter laws to prevent attacks by any mob anywhere. Anybody
throwing a stone or carrying a stick in a hostile manner should be
arrested. A mob should be treated by their action and their crimes
should be repulsed notwithstanding any other consideration. Social and
political issues should be separated from law and order issue.
Quite clever balance between historical information and insensitivity, but well articulated. Comparison with Hindu acts of protest at this stage was unwarranted. Hindu protests does not include hoisting the Pakistani flag or desecration of the Army Memorial. Another reason for their protest was ill treatment of Muslims in Myanmar. So burn policemen here in protest? It was the ordinary policeman who took a bullet to stop the honorable Shri Kasab. It is time the pain of our ordinary heroes is also understood.
The Maharashtrian populace bears the burden of guilt for allowing themselves to be led over the cliff by scandalous governments. It is truly alarming that nothing causes outrage among the common people any more. A mass uprising and a rise in awareness is what is needed among the dormant middle class, to get the state and its politicians to be accountable to the populace.
Kudos to Ms Punwani for fighting this fight, so sincerely and for so long.
Yes, I agree. Violence by anybody else, Shivsena or MNS is equally condemnable. However, the difference is that the issues raised by them were genuine and that is why Shivsena and MNS taken together control around 20-25% voteshare in Maharashtra. The issue of Toll Collection by contractors without complying with their commitment of maintaining the roads is quite genuine and received immediate support by the majority of population in Maharashtra. In contrast, what were the Muslims in Mumbai agitating about? Violence in far away Assam or in Burma, a foreign country? They were not perturbed about lack of infrastructure in Mumbai, crowded trains, price-rise, lack of educational and employment opportunities to Muslims. All these are valid issues. Instead, they went on a rampage on a issue totally unconnected with Mumbai. That why I doubt if these were local people. This is the difference.
But whatever the sena does is wrong ofcourse. But what is with the desecration of Amar Jawan. These mobs have far crossed the line. They donot have any scruples about it. It is still incomprehensible to me why Indian muslims put their religion before the nation. They possibly do not have the nation in their list of priorities. Just mere apologies for the muslim leaders.
The muslims are champions of democracy when they are in minority. Can this kind of violence happen elsewhere where there is a majority of muslim.
Very well said, may GOD SAVE INDIA!! :-(
This article could have been termed "credible" had the author not given it a communal flavor. Instead of exposing the deficiencies in the state's crisis management policies, the author over-zealously goes on a "Hindu bashing-Muslim appeasement" spree. The media ought to be non-partisan while covering such sensitive issues rather than being judgmental and selectively targeting certain groups.
Spot on. Hit the nail on the head. It is such fearless honesty that sets us apart. We will not
cave in to bigots, but through articles like this strive to preserve the large pockets of India
that remain inclusive and free.
Very nice points, but let us not make this a case of, "because one party committed a crime and got away with it, so should the other". In my opinion, the media should try to mobilize public opinion so that both kinds of rioters are punished.
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