Dangerous tendency

Though the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has backtracked on his government’s decision under pressure that knowledge of Marathi and domicile of Maharashtra for at least 15 years is necessary to be eligible for licenses to taxi drivers by adding Hindi and Gujarati languages to the eligible criteria to apply for licences to drive taxi in Mumbai, it is a development of dangerous trend that mars the cosmopolitan character of Mumbai. He moved MNS boss Raj Thackeray’s style who was in the forefront of anti-migrant campaign in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra last year. There are about two lakh taxi drivers in Mumbai and most of them are migrants from Bihar, UP and Uttarakhand. There are 4000 licenses issued in Mumbai every year. With the civic elections in 2012, Congress-NCP government has tried to go on parochial politics to counter the rising popularity of Raj Thackeray among the youths of Maharashtra because of his divisive politics. Ashok Chavan is leading the Congress-NCP coalition government. Both the parties stand for national cause and pledge for unity and integrity of the nation. There is no place for divisive, sectarian and parochial politics in their ideologies. They have national outlook and perspective. Ashok Chavan by taking the path of narrow and divisive politics to counter the opponent Raj Thackeray, who is criticised for his narrow and separatist politics, must be taken seriously by the Congress highcommand. First of all, Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and it has cosmopolitan character. No Indian can be discrimunated on the basis of caste, creed, religion and language in Mumbai and elsewhere in the country. Chief Minister must know that his way of narrow politics has no taker in the country and it brings disgrace for the Congress party, which has an impeccable record of all India presence. Chavan should also know that by playing the politics of hate, he can not counteract his opponent by espousing hate against outsiders in Mumbai. Mumbai is for all India and it will remain be so. CM chavan should also realise that the role of outsiders in the development of Mumbai has also been very vital and that can not be ignored. For merely gettings votes of locals, CM Chavan must not play the politics of discrimination and hate. Though Congress has downplayed his move, the party must take the issue seriously. Otherwise, it will have to pay a great price for Chavan’s misplaced belief. Congress rules at the Centre so it has the prime responsibility of keeping the national unity and integrity intact. And if it is damaged by its own chief minister, it will prove to be suicidal for it.By promoting the kind of politics of parochialism being played by none other than the Congress Chief Minister for the sake of getting local votes is the development of very dangerous trend. The Congress party must act swiftly to rein in its Maharashtra CM and ask him to improve his administration rather than embarking on new issue, plunging the party into great embarrassment. He must be stopped to play the politics of regionalism.