Govt must act against MNS goondaism

The spectacle of the assault of Abu Azmi by MNS MLAs in Maharashtra assembly over his taking oath in Hindi on the TV news channels has hurt the feelings of every Indian. It is also the open display of parochialism for only reaping political benefits. Abu Azmi was assaulted only because he defied MNS Chief Raj Thackeray’s dictate to all legislatures, who have been elected in the recently concluded assembly polls, to take oath in Marathi. It appears that MNS is bigger than the government of India. Merely expressing condemnation of MNS' action by the Centre can not do the purpose. It also reflects Congress-led leniency towards MNS for political reasons. Centre must act stringently against goondaism of MNS. India is a Union of states and it is a secular democratic country. The question then arises whether the state is bigger than the nation that Maharashtra-based regional outfit behaves in this bestial manner. Even the aspirations and desire of a state must not have preference over national aspirations and desire for petty political gains. In India, the language and the religion are the personal matter of an individual. No body has right to dictate his terms on others to suit his political aspiration. All are Indians and all are bound to respect the national language, though all are free to speak their mother togue. In Maharashtra, Marathi language is the mother tongue of Maharashtrians and that does not mean that the people from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other states, who have migrated there should be compelled to use only Marathi. Though local culture, tradition and language must be respected, it does not mean it should be kept above national culture, tradition and language. What wrong SP MLA Abu Azmi committed by taking oath in Hindi that he was so badly attacked by MNS MLAs inside the assembly. MNS MLAs and cadres are behaving like goondas and gangsters. So, law must take its own course against them without taking into account its political fall-out. We all are Indians first and then Marathis, Biharis, UPites and South Indians. Regional chauvinism is absolutely unacceptable. The Centre must act swiftly otherwise people will think they are hand-in-glove. It is a different matter that the four MNS MLAs have been suspended for 4 years from the Assembly but there must be an investigation.The way MNS MLAs have behaved inside the assembly of Maharashtra is a brutal attack on democracy. They are only intended to show that they are the champions of Marathi manoos to exploit their feelings in their favour and outshine its immediate regional competitor and earstwhile parent body Shive Sena. Without taking account the political fall-out of the action against MNS in Maharashtra, the Centre must take stringent action against regional chavinism of MNS and its goondaism.