India's unity threatened: THACKERAYS use lingual axe

The attack on the Bachchans and Shahrukh Khan by Raj and Bal Thackeray is not only an attempt to curb individual rights but also hits at one of India's strong binding force, Bollywood. By these actions these gentlemen are telling Bollywood folks how to behave in Bombay (sorry, Mumbai). As if Mumbai was in a different country!

There is something called the Indian Constitution that gives every individual the right to work and settle in any part of India and say anything one wants to say (unless it threatens national security or does not demean anyone or anything). If Jaya Bachchan says that she is from UP and so will speak in Hindi, does that threaten national security. Has she says anything illegal? If Bal and Raj Thackeray say 1001 times a day that they are proud to be Marathi, why can't Shahrukh Khan say that he is a "dilliwalla?"

I hope the esteemed gentlemen understand that Maharashtra is not a different country. It is a part of India. And Mumbai is a part of India. No one can claim Mumbai to be some body's property. Moreover, at the time of independence, Maharashtra and Gujarat were part of the undivided Bombay state. Gujaratis too have an equal claim on Mumbai. I don't want to get into a silly argument. All I am saying is that the country comes first.

Stressing to much on one's state is dangerous for the country's unity. The formation of states on the basis of language was a big mistake. If Mumbai had been part of an undivided Bombay state now, where would the Thackerays be today?

Ratan Tata is a Parsi. His mother tongue is Parsi. Does he demand that there should be a different Parsi state? No! he thinks he is an Indian first and then a Parsi.

Only a small-minded man harps on his local parochial identity. Progressive men are happy to be Indians first.