Stop playing the competitive politics of parochialism

Shiv Sena's big boss Balasaheb Thackeray is expressing his desperation over his humiliating defeat in the just concluded Maharashtra assembly elections and the challenge he is facing from his nephew MNS boss Raj Thackeray, who founded his own outfit after breaking away from the parent body Shiv Sena. He faces challenge from two sides and he has come to realise that it is difficult for his son Udhav Thackeray, who is his apparent heir, to face them successfully. That is why he has come out to play his politics of regionalism by arousing the sentiments of Marathi manoos. His son Udhav Thackeray has also failed so far to face the challenges being thrown by his cousin Raj Thackeray. The cut throat competition of the paroachial politics between Balasaheb and Raj Thackeray is going on . Raj Thackeray’s has done much better than Shiv Sena in the just-concluded assembly elections in Mumbai. Both indulge whole time in the competitive politics of parochialism and regionalism and both try to establish themselves as the champion of Marathi manoos. The way SP newly elected MLA Abu Azmi was assaulted by MNS MLAs inside the assembly while he was taking oath in Hindi. Raj Thackeray had issued his dictate to all MLAs to take oath in Marathi in Maharashtra assembly. Hindi is our national language and the nation is above the state. MNS goondaism was only enacted to show the Maharashtrians that they were the only ones who espouse their cause. Though on this issue Shive Sena has criticised MNS, it was in look out for the issue to outscore MNS in competitive politics of narrowness. Balasaheb found the issue in cricket icon and pride of the nation Sachin Tendulakar when he replied to a question of journalist during the celebration of his 20 glorious years of playing for Indian Team. Sachin is entirely correct in saying that Mumbai is for all Indians and I am a proud Mahaharashtrian but I am Indian first. Balasaheb picked up the issue and started playing it wrongly. In a letter to Sachin Tendulkar written in Shiv Sena Mouth Peice Saamna by him unnecessarily advising Sachin to play only cricket and not politics. He wanted to communicate through his letter to Sachin that his remarks are uncalled for and they have hurt the feelings of Maharashtrians. He also brought to Sachin's notice that even when he was not born, 105 Maharashtrians sacrificed their lives for getting Mumbai in 1950. There were killed in police firing when Morarji Desai was the Chief Minister. Though Sachin has nothing to do with the politics of either Shiv Sena and MNS and he is the pride of the nation far above their narrow thinking, the way the nation has reacted to Balasaheb Thackeray’s letter and criticised him may prove to be an eye opener for him. Across the party line, all have criticised him vehemently. And the nation has come to know finally that Shiv Sena and MNS are only involved in competitive politics of paroachialism. They can not even spare the pride of the nation. Not only in India but all over the cricket playing nations, Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is being loved and admired profusely.