Me(e) Mumbaikar phenomenon

Rahul Sharma, an undergraduate from Uttar Pradesh did not see a bright future for himself back home. So his next destination was the obvious city-Mumbai, ’sapno ka shahar’. He was shocked to see what the city had witnessed in recent times, attack on North Indians. The city it seems is no more ‘amchi’. It is just for ‘marathi manoos’.Is that true? Atleast that is what Raj Thackrey’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena went out proving. It started with Raj’s speech at koli mahotsav. He exhorted the fisherman to come up with innovative ideas to beat competition from North Indian migrants. He took potshot at Chatt Puja and even criticized Amitabh Bachhan for not showing enough love for Mumbai. The next day North Indian migrant worker’s were beaten up by MNS cadres. Is this what we expect from a city which was once regarded as India’s only cosmopolitan city. Whatever said and done there is no denying that people from UP and Bihar have proved their mettle. It can also be seen as a reflection of the inappropriate opportunities in these states. The Ambani’s, Birla’s and the Bollywood superstars or many others are not Maharashtrians but are as much Mumbaikars as anybody else. Each citizen contributes in a big or small way. And no Thackrey can discriminate against them.


I feel that Raj’s cause is justified to a certain extent but his way of agitation in not right. But more than anything else it was his tactic to give a boost to his otherwise sinking political career. This problem of migration and the problem of civic infrastructure is also plaguing Delhi. But when CM, Shiela Dixit says something about the influx of migrants in Delhi, it is not taken too well. And mind you Delhi is a city where Delhi University has reservation for everybody except Delhites. Atleast that’s not the case with Mumbai. Why has nobody started an agitation in Delhi?


What is most ironical is that no action has been taken against Raj or MNS. He should have been immedietly arrested for arousing communal violence. But instead of a lock up he was seen being greeted by Mumbai’s Police Commisioner at his daughter’s wedding.

Mumbai has been known for it’s spirit of resilience. At the end Mumbaikars have to take a lead and condemn all these pitty things. I am sure none of us want to see another Gujarat here.