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Common Man in Politics

Nearly 40 people beaten up with rods in several parts of the state
About 15 state owned transport buses burnt
Many shops closed down across the state
Numerous vehicles, buses pelted with stones, thrashed down and destroyed
Around 10000 north Indians flee from Nasik to their home town

Amazing score card for the MNS activists to show off their Marathi asmita (pride).

Oh and yes a 55 yr old Marathi Manoos killed as a result of the stone pelting by the ‘dim-witted’ and ‘ill-advised’ activists must have been like a winning shot, kind of receiving ‘Param Veer Chakra’ for the victorious act.

What’s the use and what pleasure did MNS chief and his rebellions derive from creating casualties, causing damage to government, public, and private properties. And who takes the onus of the death of the innocent man, who probably had nothing to do with the north Indians and neither with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

Do we really need violence to portray our protests? And is all this hatred really required? These groups (the Senas of the Uncle and the Nephew), which pledge so religiously by the ideologies of Shivaji Maharaj, forget that the coronation of the Maharaj was performed by a north Indian pandit, Gagabhat from Varanasi. Why do we then differentiate?

If something is going wrong or someone is doing wrong, let that alone be punished. I am sure we can use humanity and law to do that, better than iron rods, flaming torches, stones etc. A riotous act upsetting the harmony of the place and people is definitely not the way.

And we forget one thing – the entire affair is politicized, where our leaders use us and exploit our emotions for their own good. The “selfish breed”, will seldom think any good or constructive about the people, unless ofcourse it directly fits into their political and personal interest. I am referring to both Abu Azmi and Raj Thackeray here, who possibly were cause-effect of the entire mishap in Mumbai and other parts of the state. No matter how much all the involved political leaders shout about it not being a political stunt, we all might want to agree that politics is at the core of the situation. The leaders are powerful enough in their speeches to ignite hatred and violence in the minds of their supporters. Why can't they then use their power to quiten the people, order/ask them to remain calm, and keep them away from resorting to violent means? Is this so difficult for them?

Arrested under non-bailable offences but out within 2-3 hours, we all knew this would happen, at least we had a feeling that the arrests were just a show business, a lot of things happen behind scenes. Added to that fine of just a few thousand rupees (considering the leaders’ appetite) was slapped on two leaders. What about the damages that were caused to government and public properties? We will have to pay for it, by the way of taxes and improper services – transportation, infrastructure etc.

Many debates are being conducted on news channels, discussion forums, articles, and so on. Every political leader and party is blaming the other. All of talking how Bachchan has suffered, how Amar Singh is troubled, how Abu Azmi and Raj incited riot like situations, how Advani reacted, how Lalu was happy on Raj’s arrest, how Nirupam defended Congress. But who is talking about you and me, “the common man” or is at least thinking about us.

Does the common man need violence? Does he want to see his Mumbai being put to shame? Does he want to be victimized every time in the political warfare? No I don’t think so. He has ever lived peacefully with his fellow citizens and will continue to do so, if only politics does not interfere.

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