Tag: Shiv Sena

Colours of terror

India, Terrorism
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Chidambaram spoke of saffron terror. Some joined issue by saying terror has no colour.

However one describes terror by a particular group there are people who object to the nomenclature. Some speak of Jehadi/Islamic/Islamist terror. Some speak of Hindu/ Hindutva/ Saffron terror. Some speak of Maoist/Naxal/Red terror. There was Khalistani terror. There is terror in Kashmir and North-East India. There is Marathi terror which has forced multiplex owners to show Marathi films at prime time at reduced rates.

Some want saffron terror to be ignored because it is on a small scale and done by amateurs. They show their true colours. Some say saffron is a colour of valour and it is on national flag. They do not mention that some people arrested for terrorist acts wore saffron.

Someone has gone to court and filed a defamation case against Chidambaram for the use of the phrase saffron terror. Living persons are defamed. It is strange that a colour can be defamed and someone can file a defamation case on behalf of the colour.

For the victims of terror it does not matter who is the perpetrator of crime. Sikhs were victims of terror in 1984 in Delhi. Muslims were victims of terror in 2002 in Gujarat. Christians were victims of terror in 2008 in Orissa and Karnataka. The perpetrators were Hindus. Sikh terrorists who wanted Khalistan killed many Hindus and Sikhs and sometimes people of other religions. Hindu terrorists belonging to ULFA have killed many Hindus. In Kashmir Muslim terrorists have killed Hindus and Muslims.

Sometimes victims of terror are punished and criminals go scot-free. T. J. Joseph a victim of terror. Who had forgiven the criminals who had cut off his hand is sacked by his college. Kothamangalam diocese’s decision is outrageous. Fr. Thomas Malekudy, manager of Newman College where T. J. Joseph served, has said “The management was forced to dismiss him because he failed to withdraw the question paper, which insulted the Prophet. It is up to the Muslim community to forgive Joseph for his crime. If the Muslim community exonerates him, we will think about taking him back. He is also free to move the court.”

Sr. Stella, sister of T. J. Joseph, has said T. J. Joseph has apologised many times. T. J. Joseph must move court. The basis for sacking was unjustified. What does Fr. Thomas Malekudy mean by Muslim community? Is it Popular Front of India? Newman College is a Catholic institute. T. J. Joseph did not commit any crime that is punishable under Canon Law. Is Newman College governed by Shariat? Why is the bishop of Kothamangalam quiet? Why has he not told the college management to revoke the dismissal? Why is the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam Angamaly quiet? Fr. Thomas Malekudy is like Sr. Sebastina who sacked Ruchika Girhotra, a victim of molestation. Education Minister of Kerala, a CPI M led government has condemned the decision to sack T. J. Joseph. Fr. Thomas Malekudy must apologise to T. J. Joseph and revoke the dismissal.

BJP and Shiv Sena wanted tough line against terror and Afzal Guru hanged. Nitin Gadkari had asked why there is delay in hanging Afzal Guru, is he a son-in-law of Congress? UPA government recommended rejection of Afzal Guru’s mercy petition over two months back. Pratibha Patil has not rejected of Afzal Guru’s mercy petition. Why are BJP and Shiv Sena quiet? Is Shiv Sena quiet because Pratibha Patil is a Marathi Manoos?

Film and the city

Cricket, India
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On 12/2/2010 the film My name is Khan opened for show in a few theatres at noon in Bombay. After two hours more theatres had opened and by night it was business as usual.
The film’s release was hanging in balance for the past two weeks. Shiv Sena had demanded apology from Shah Rukh Khan for his statement that Pakistani players should have been selected for IPL 3. If no apology they will not allow the film to be shown in Bombay. They had also said Bombay belongs to Marathi people and had criticised anyone who said Bombay belongs to all Indians. They had dared Rahul Gandhi to visit Bombay. If he came he will be shown black flags. Rahul Gandhi visited Bombay and travelled by local trains. Black flag demonstrators were arrested. Next day Shah Rukh Khan returned from abroad. He was given security from airport to home. Shiv Sena was dejected and would have given up the boycott. Sharad Pawar visited Bal Thackeray and that gave a boost to Shiv Sena which renewed the threat to boycott the film. They sent letters to theatre owners not to show the film.
Ashok Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, assured security to theatres. Karan Johar met Police Commissioner. Meeting was held with theatre owners. Then came many twists. Sometimes theatre owners said they will not show the film. One person said the atmosphere has to be conducive. There were reports of opening and cancelling of bookings. More than 2,000 Shiv Sainiks were arrested. Shah Rukh Khan went to Abu Dhabi and Berlin. On the night of 11/2/2010 it seemed the film may not be released in the city. Ashok Chavan looked dejected. We have given security. Our job is to maintain law and order. Showing films was upto theatre owners. That was his statement.
The film was to be shown in 63 theatres in Bombay. Shiv Sena had claimed victory in its newspaper. There were no morning shows. The battle was between mobocracy and democracy. The battle between Shiv Sena and State had got personal.
The tide turned at noon. Some theatres started the show. Sanjay Nirupam, Congress MP, went to one theatre. Raosaheb Patil, Home Minsiter of Maharashtra, went to another theatre. Kabir Bedi and Pooja Bedi wanted to see the film but did not get the tickets as it was house full.
What went behind the scenes will be known in due course. What made Raosaheb Patel to go to a theatre? There was no report of Ashok Chavan going to any theatre. Shiv Sena had said there is a mass movement against the film. They had initiated the protest. There was no sign of mass movement against the film. Theatres were house full.
For the first time in Maharashtra a film was given protection against widespread threats and theatre owners showed the film. Previously at the hint of any trouble the film affected was banned by the government or theatre owners stopped the film shows. Sometimes producers or actors bowed to the demands of trouble makers.
When there was trouble regarding Wake up Sid, Karan Johar had gone to meet Raj Thackeray and bowed to his demands. That time Ashok Chavan had said if there is any trouble people should come to me. Raj Thackeray had said who is he that people should go to him. This time Ashok Chavan demonstrated the power of the state government.
Link to e-book King – a novel: http://go4quiz.com/vincent/king

BJP and Shiv Sena

India
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BJP is a national party. Shiv Sena is a regional party. They are in alliance and part of NDA. At one time both parties had Hindutva as main agenda and that brought them close. BJP had alliances with regional parties which lasted a few years. It had alliance with TDP in Andhra Pradesh. It had alliance with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. That broke down in 1999 and BJP had alliance with DMK and its associates which broke down in 2004. BJP and Shiv Sena had differences over certain matters over the years and they had ended in compromise.
An alliance is for winning elections. If your alliance partner votes for candidate of rival alliance then that alliance is of no use. That happened in 2007 Presidential election when Shiv Sena did not vote for BJP candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat but voted for Congress candidate Pratibha Patil because she was Marathi. In 2009 Shiv Sena was ready to support Sharad Pawar as Prime Minister instead of Lal Krishna Advani.
In 2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections BJP contested less seats than Shiv Sena but won 46 seats as against Shiv Sena’s 44.
Shiv Sena is back to regionalism. BJP has publicly opposed regionalism. Shiv Sena criticised RSS leaders Mohan Bhagwat for saying Indians can go anywhere and Ram Madhav for saying RSS members should protect North Indians in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena has been for Marathi people. At one time South Indians were targets. Marathi agenda did not have appeal outside a few cities in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena adopted Hindutva to broaden its appeal. Shiv Sena once again stressing its Marathi agenda is an embarrassment to BJP.
As long as people like Narendra Modi and Feroze Varun Gandhi are in BJP there is not much chance of BJP coming to power at Centre. Sangh Parivar does not have problem if Shiv Sena targets Muslims. It has problem when Shiv Sena targets Hindu North Indians. BJP’s alliance with Shiv Sena becomes a liability in North India.
Link to e-book King – a novel: http://go4quiz.com/vincent/king