Political blackmail and goondaism

Recently, I was happy--very happy-- on 12th February.

That was the day on which Mumbhaikars (people who live in Mumbhai) showed the world that Political Blackmail and Goondaism have no place in a civilised society.

It all started with a statement by noted film actor Shah Rukh Khan. To a question whether Pakistani cricketers should have been selected for IPL 3, he replied that "Yes-they should have been picked. I would have been very happy, if some Pakistani Players had been selected".This led to a strong reaction from Shivsena. They threatend that Sharukh Khan!s latest film "My Nam is Khan" will not be released in Mumbhai theatres on 12th February. Both Bal Thacxkeray and his son Udhav Tackeray have always behaved as if they own Mumbhai. They went to the extent oi asking Shahrukh Kahan to go to Pakistan..

Initially, inspite of the assurances given by the Maharashtra Government, theatre owners were not prepared to release the film on the appointed day. They were afraid that their theatres will be attacked by the Sivsena Goondas. Their faith in Sena!s retaliation was more than their faith in the elected Government of Maharashtra. The name "Shiv Sena" evokes fear.

However, on 12, the film was released in 13 theatres and on 13th in 45 theatres (as against 63). All the shows were houseful and people flocked to the theatres giving a big snuff to the Sena.People of Mumbhai once again proved that political goondaism and blackmail have no place in Mumbhai. While the Sena has lost its credibity,Mumbhaikars have shown that they do not submit to these external threats and pressures.

I was very happy that this had happened. I was reminded of the following instances where the Sena had earlier had threatened dire action:

1)Sachin Tendulkar had made a statement that he is an Indian first and a Mumbhaikar second. He also said that Mumbhai belongs to all Indians.
This invited strong reaction from Bal Thackeray who advised Tendulkar to confine himself to Cricket.

2)Udhav Thackeray had threated that Rahul Gandhi wil not be allowed entry into Mumbhai. The very next day Rahul Gandhi came to Mumbhai and travelled b a local train, even drawing money from an ATM in Santa Cruz.

3)Earlier, actors like Amitabh Bachan, Shabana Azmi and others were threatened. They solved the problem by visiting the Sena Supremo at his house.

4) Shahrukh did not offer any apology for his statements nor did he visit Bal Thackeray. The one other instance of an actor standing upto Thackeray was Dev Aanand who told openly that he could not be driven out of Mumbhai. If that were to happen, he averred, the Indian Constitution had to be amended. He did not even have any security with him

The events of 12th February pleased many Indians like me. I am not a political person, but I hope better sense will prevail with Sena and that they would make only sensible statements in future

Hats off to Mumbhaikars.

V.K.Balasubramanian

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