Saswat Panigrahi
In a desperate attempt to woo Marathi manoos, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray has hurled a veiled threat to separate Maharashtra from the rest of India.
"I don't want to break the country. But if there are demands for a separate nation, politicians who make provocative statements against Marathis will be responsible for it," Raj has said in an oblique reference to a separate country for Marathis.
By threatening to separate Maharashtra from the rest of India Raj Thackrey has raised the specter of a divided India and played a bugle of a war against the nation.
This irresponsible statement of the 41-year old leader, which has threatened the unity and integrity of the nation, is a gross disrespect to the constitution and also an assault to indianness.
Disruption of sovereignty and territorial integrity is a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code. Any conduct which seeks to destroy or damage the unity of the country is punishable under Section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code. Imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration are punishable under Section 153-B of Indian Penal Code. Why hasn’t Raj Thackrey been punished on the charge of violating the law?
After floating Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Raj has aggressively projected the ‘sons of the soil’ brand of politics, albeit in a very parochial way, to walk into vacant space of Shiv Sena. And this time he has dared to attack Indian nationhood to promote his parochial interest.
On several occasions Raj Thackeray hit the headlines for his inflammatory remarks themed around language politics and regionalism.
He has accused the migrants from the North Indian States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar of spoiling Maharashtrian culture. He has called the celebration of holy Chhath Puja by North Indians a "drama" and a "show of arrogance". He has questioned the loyalty of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan towards Mumbai and Maharashtra.
Sporadic incidences of violence against North Indians by MNS workers were reported in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Beed, Nashik, Amravati, Jalna, and Latur. This has led to the exodus of workers from Maharashtra to their home States, causing an acute labour shortage, ultimately affecting the local industries.
The Congress-NCP coalition which propped up Raj Thackeray against BJP-Shiv Sena combine to win the Maharashtra Assembly election with a comfortable margin has become a mute spectator.
In a desperate attempt to woo Marathi manoos, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray has hurled a veiled threat to separate Maharashtra from the rest of India.
"I don't want to break the country. But if there are demands for a separate nation, politicians who make provocative statements against Marathis will be responsible for it," Raj has said in an oblique reference to a separate country for Marathis.
By threatening to separate Maharashtra from the rest of India Raj Thackrey has raised the specter of a divided India and played a bugle of a war against the nation.
This irresponsible statement of the 41-year old leader, which has threatened the unity and integrity of the nation, is a gross disrespect to the constitution and also an assault to indianness.
Disruption of sovereignty and territorial integrity is a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code. Any conduct which seeks to destroy or damage the unity of the country is punishable under Section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code. Imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration are punishable under Section 153-B of Indian Penal Code. Why hasn’t Raj Thackrey been punished on the charge of violating the law?
After floating Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Raj has aggressively projected the ‘sons of the soil’ brand of politics, albeit in a very parochial way, to walk into vacant space of Shiv Sena. And this time he has dared to attack Indian nationhood to promote his parochial interest.
On several occasions Raj Thackeray hit the headlines for his inflammatory remarks themed around language politics and regionalism.
He has accused the migrants from the North Indian States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar of spoiling Maharashtrian culture. He has called the celebration of holy Chhath Puja by North Indians a "drama" and a "show of arrogance". He has questioned the loyalty of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan towards Mumbai and Maharashtra.
Sporadic incidences of violence against North Indians by MNS workers were reported in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Beed, Nashik, Amravati, Jalna, and Latur. This has led to the exodus of workers from Maharashtra to their home States, causing an acute labour shortage, ultimately affecting the local industries.
The Congress-NCP coalition which propped up Raj Thackeray against BJP-Shiv Sena combine to win the Maharashtra Assembly election with a comfortable margin has become a mute spectator.
