Though the festival of lights is over, more fireworks are expected here on the issue of Marathis versus North Indians in Maharashtra. The trigger is Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam’s statement that North Indians could bring Mumbai to a halt if they chose to (he hails from North India).
His party, yet to chalk out a strategy to deal with the Anna Hazare factor and other difficult issues, went on the defensive. Although state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and several other leaders disowned Nirupam’s statement, party insiders believe this has given an opportunity for the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to exploit the issue ahead of the election to the civic body here next February.
As expected, both the SS and MNS blasted Nirupam, who also dared their leaders to move without police protection in the city.Nirupam’s timing is also important.
Political parties here are competing with each other to help organise the Chhath puja or Dala Chhath, observed elaborately by mainly North Indians. he Congress, which had won all six Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 elections and 16 of 36 seats in Mumbai during the earlier legislative assembly polls, mainly due to the division of Marathi votes between the SS and MNS, is in a dilemma. It needs both voters, North Indians and the Marathi speakers.
The party-led government has attracted a lot of criticism for its failure to properly address the issue of providing homes to textile mill workers, who succeeded in getting support from the SS and MNS.
Further, the Congress is also desparate to lure Dalits after the SS-BJP combine joined hands with the Republican Party of India (Athavale).Chavan, who would complete one year in office on November 11, told Business Standard: “We will not allow anyone to shut down Mumbai. Normal life would always be allowed to function smoothly. We will work together with everyone for Mumbai’s development.” The CM was the first to disown Nirupam’s statement.
The Congress’ ruling ally, the Nationalist Congress Party, downplayed Nirupam’s outburst, coming at a time when the party is trying to change its Maratha-centricimage.
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Meanwhile, the SS, struggling to maintain supremacy over the city’s civic body, has launched a scathing attack against Nirupam (who, interestingly, was earlier in the Shiv Sena and even edited the party’s Hindi eveninger before shifting to the Congress).
The SS’ executive president, Uddhav Thackeray, retaliated in Sena style and warned that the Marathi people would smash Nirupam’s teeth. Subsequently, Sena activists hit the road and blackened posters with Nirupam’s picture.
This led to a reaction from Nirupam’s supporters, who declared they would do everything to protect their leader and North Indians.As for MNS chief Raj Thackeray, he attacked the SS for having made Nirupam a big figure.
As for the controversial statement, he declared he’d would burst crackers after Diwali was over, too.