Fortification of Mumbai

The kind of fortification that has to be provided to cinema halls of Mumbai, which are prepared to screen Shah Rukh Khan's film, shows how the Shiv Sena wants to do politics on the basis of violence. The problem is not that the Shiv Sena has gone on rampage as part of its politics, but that the political leadership of the country is refusing to show the necessary political will to stop it from doing so.
It is true that the Maharashtra Government appears to have decided to facilitate screening of the film, but there does not appear the necessary determination behind its decision. After all, what is the reason that Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has to expect an anarchical party like Shiv Sena to show understanding? Is it perhaps because the central government is refraining from stating anything publicly? Is it not strange that when the financial capital of the country is restless, the central authority is behaving as if nothing has happened?

Tug-of-War
It cannot be denied that the disturbed condition of Mumbai is the result of mutual tug-of-war between the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, but it is difficult to understand why the state government appears unable to stop the hooliganism that is being perpetrated openly? The manner in which Mumbai is being turned into a military base only underlines the defeat of the state government. It is disappointing that the state government has failed to give this message that the Shiv Sena is indulging in hooliganism in the name of politics and it cannot be tolerated.
Is it not the right time to give a stern message to Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena from the national political leadership that they cannot be allowed to do politics of violence? Why are they not taking any initiative so that the recognition of organizations like the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena as political parties could be annulled? If we could not rein in Shiv Sena, it would not only stop the screening of just one film, but it would also hurt democratic values and beliefs.

IPL Issue
After all, Shah Rukh Khan has only said that he was desirous of including Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament. Is it some kind of a crime? The Shiv Sena has the right to disagree with Shah Rukh, but every citizen of the country has that right. Disagreeing with someone's thoughts does not mean you could resort to violent means. The Shiv Sena is not only doing that but it is also justifying it. This is not only hooliganism, but also dictatorship.
It is not surprising to see film stars maintaining silence over the Shiv Sena's violence, because when the national leadership is silent, what could they do? The central government's silence over the incidents in Mumbai is surprising as well as causing concern. This silence increases the audacity of the Shiv Sena and other so-called political parties like it. Agreed that polluted ideology should be dealt with at the ideological level, but the central government is considering it better to do absolutely nothing about the same.

Gandhigiri Versus Vandalism

The pain of the slap that Rahul Gandhi, Congress youthful leader and general secretary, has given to the Shiv Sena by displaying Ghandhiism on Mumbai roads and traveling in local trains would continue to be felt by the Shiv Sena for a long time. In fact, the display of Gandhigiri by Rahul has taken Shiv Sainiks by utter surprise. Greatly annoyed by Rahul's statement on Mumbai, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and his activists had threatened to hold a black-flag demonstration against Rahul Gandhi who was scheduled to visit Mumbai after his Bihar sojourn. The paper cub of paper tiger Bal Thackeray, Udhav Thackeray, had even gone so far as to advise Rahul to keep himself away from Mumbai.

Rahul's Mumbai Visit
Despite the threat, Rahul Gandhi not only visited Mumbai but also showed the proper place for the Shiv Sena by standing in queue to purchase ticket to travel by a local train. Rahul clearly gave the indication that let Bal Thackeray and his goons claim whatever they may, he cares little. He clearly gave the indication that Mumbai belongs to all Indians and those who carry on their politics in the name of the "Marathi Manoos" count for nothing. Taking abundant precaution, the Mumbai police had arrested several Shiv Sena activists a day prior to Rahul's visit.
The provocative statements made by Thackeray and company had thrown ample hints that every attempt would be made to vitiate the atmosphere. The coward Shiv Sainiks got solace only by using vituperative language and thus manifested their helplessness. The realization had already dawned on them that should they cross the "line of control", they would find themselves unsafe. The situation that has prevailed so far goes to prove that no stern action was ever taken against the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and they continued to spit venom. Had even a hint of an action against them was seen earlier, they could not have taken Mumbai hostage? Some of the Shiv Sena activists were taken into custody from the venue, which Rahul Gandhi visited, yet the limited number of these activists clearly indicated that they had lost the courage to come out in large numbers.

Ever-Mounting Hoodlumism of Shiv Sena
Film star Shah Rukh Khan has also given a befitting reply to the ever-mounting hoodlumism of Shiv Sena activists. Shah Rukh Khan who was visiting London in connection with the promotion of his film, not only reiterated his stand against not letting cricketers from Pakistan play in the Indian Premier League tournament but he also refused to apologize. He even counter attacked the Shiv Sena that since he was the son of a freedom fighter, and freedom of expression is a fundamental right in a democracy, he would not apologize to Shiv Sena. He has made it clear that he would not be cowed down by threats extended to him by the Shiv Sena, nor would he fall prostrate before them.
It may be recalled that a stooge of Bal Thackeray, Sanjay Raut had extended the threat to Shah Rukh that if he is so bold and courage one to refuse to apologize, he should make the same statement in Mumbai as he had made in New York. This stooge of the Shiv Sena chief, who also talks above his head and has the same kind of a loose tongue like his mentor, had further reminded Shah Rukh Khan that his house "Mannat" is in Mumbai.

Meaningless Activities
The befitting reply given by Shah Rukh to the Shiv Sena and the overwhelming support he received, and the visit by Rahul Gandhi, who fearlessly visited Mumbai in spite of threats extended to him by the Shiv Sena, go to prove that Gandhism can easily defeat goons. It further proves that the common Marathi finds no meaning of these activities and that he is neither bothered nor disturbed by the provocation in the name of Mumbai or "Marathi Manoos". The people in Mumbai fearlessly turned out to meet Rahul Gandhi which goes to prove that the common man in Mumbai are fed up with the fascist forces.
The fearless visit to Mumbai by Rahul Gandhi has placed a mirror before the Shiv Sena. It can further be assessed by the number of the Shiv Sainiks who were arrested while demonstrating against Rahul's visit how much sup port from the people they enjoy! Clearly, if they had any support from the people, there should have been thousands of people taking to the streets against Rahul's visit and the arrests would have been in hundreds and thousands and not a handful of them. In fact, the immediate visit by Rahul Gandhi after the befitting reply that the Shiv Sena got from Shah Rukh, have together, defeated the hoodlumism of the Shiv Sena.

Gains, Losses of Major Political Parties in Byelections

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has been in the news for the last two days. The issue of its legislator Abu Azim Azmi taking oath in Hindi was in the news when viewers throughout the country saw the hooliganism indulged in by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). However, the incident proved a blessing in disguise for the SP, which rose in stature in a day, but the very next day, a setback brought it back in news yet again. The news was that the Ferozabad parliamentary constituency has slipped out of SP's hands with its strong candidate Dimple Yadav's defeat in the byelection held there.

Surprising Results
Byelections were held last week for some seats in various state assemblies and for the Ferozabad parliamentary constituency. The results of these elections are extremely surprising in some states, but the most amazing result was from Ferozabad where the Congress candidate Raj Babbar, a film actor-turned politician, defeated SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law by a margin of more than 85,000 votes.

The seat had become a prestige issue for SP leader Mulayam Singh, who had put in all his might there. His son, Nikhilesh Yadav, vacated the seat because he had contested from two seats (Kannauj and Ferozabad) and had won from both. Later, he resigned from Ferozabad.

Earlier, Raj Babbar had been defeated in the parliamentary election for the Fatehpur Sikri seat. Since Raj Babbar has snatched the Ferozabad seat from the SP, it has given a double jolt to Mulayam Singh because Raj Babbar had won from Agra earlier also as a SP member. Babbar left the SP when differences between him and other members erupted and joined the Congress.

Tension Between SP and Congress
One of the reasons of tension between the SP and the Congress was the Congress granting a ticket to Raj Babbar to contest the election, and the Ferozabad seat had become a prestige issue for both parties. To establish its presence in the constituency, the Congress had sent its young and popular leader, Rahul Gandhi to campaign for Raj Babbar.

Dimple Yadav's huband Akhilesh Yadav also went all out to support his party and wife. Despite that, the Congress emerged victorious with a huge margin. It is a matter of concern for the SP as to how this seat, considered to be a party stronghold, slipped out of its hands. Is the specter of Kalyan Singh continuing to follow it even now? One wonders why the image of the iron man of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh, is receiving a beating. Is the leader, considered to be the Messiah of minorities and farmers, losing his identity, or is the Congress gradually emerging like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes in the state and elsewhere?

Internal Dissension Within BJP
Barring Ferozabad, if one looks at the situation in Uttar Pradesh, one would find an important and significant difference. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the SP gained nothing but frustration in all the 11 assembly seats where byelections were held. A constant propaganda against the Bahujan Samaj Party was being carried out. The party was losing its sheen and getting unpopular in the state. Yet, by securing eight out of 11 seats, the party has manifested its strength in the state.

The internal dissension within the BJP has made it lose the Lucknow (West) seat where Lalji Tondon was the undisputed leader for the last several decades. Mulayam Singh has not won even a single seat. Also, seats held by the SP earlier have slipped out of it. The BJP would have to ponder why the sun of secularism is turning the drying leaves of its lotus (election symbol) into ashes.

In Kerala and West Bengal, the Left sees its defeated faces in the mirror by these results. In Kerala, the Congress has given a huge jolt to the Left Front by winning all the three seats for which byelection were held. It may be mentioned that the Left Front is ruling in the state. The Sangh Parivar (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its allies) had been carrying out a nefarious propaganda against Muslims in the state. Muslims there felt that the ruling front was doing nothing against that propaganda. Muslim youth's harassment on the pretext of "Love Jihad" has come out as the final verdict against the Left.

Advantage for Trinamool Congress
Mamta Bannerjee with her spell has badly mauled the Left Front in West Bengal. There, she assiduously campaigned to attract minorities to her party, the Trinamool Congress, proving false the Left's slogan of being pro-minority.

By joining hands with the Congress, she displayed great sagacity and caused the lights of the Reds to go off. She won eight out of 10 seats there. She won the hearts of minorities by allowing the use of Urdu language and other regional languages in railway recruitment examinations. She certainly benefited from it.

There is good news for the BJP also, which won one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. This provided great solace to the party. Yet, BJP leaders must have felt the wave of resentment against the saffron brigade simmering among the masses too.