Oops! MNS does it again

Four MNS legislators have been suspended for four years after they were charged with assaulting Abu Asim Azmi for his oath in Hindi
Hardnews Bureau

Those in the corridors of power never shy away from fomenting trouble. Yet again Hindi-Marathi divide created chaos in the Maharashtra Assembly. The occasion was the swearing in ceremony of newly elected representatives and all of it happened according to the plans involving both the parties. Four MNS legislators have been suspended for four years by the speaker after a privilege motion against them was passed in the Assembly. Those suspended include Ram Kadam, Vasant Gite, Shishir Shinde and Ramesh Wanjale. They were charged with assaulting Abu Asim Azmi, MLA from the Samajwadi Party (SP). 
 
On Monday, when the newly elected legislator, Abu Asim Azmi who originally hails from UP was taking his oath of office in the national language Hindi, MNS legislators started shouting slogans, smashed the dais and manhandled Azmi. As Azmi ran for cover, he was slapped and hit on the chest and face by Ram Kadam, MNS legislator. The house had to be adjourned after the shameful incident.

Meanwhile, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav condemned the incident and said, "I would like to congratulate Azmi for maintaining the honour of the national language by taking oath in Hindi." Amar Singh also expressed shock over the whole incident and blamed Congress saying that Raj Thackeray is a creation of the ruling party for paltry political gains. However, the incident has been condemned by the Congress as well. Latest reports trickling in from Maharashtra point towards rising tension in the state. SP members have forcibly closed down some markets in Thane and also pelted stones at different places in Mumbai.
 
Earlier, a war of words preceded the whole incident. Azmi had made it clear after his victory in the polls that he would take the oath in Hindi. This in turn had led to anger in the Raj Thackeray camp. Thackeray, had said that Azmi should go back to UP if he has problems with taking the oath in Marathi. MNS, a right wing force, under the garb of protecting the rights of Marathi Manoos (Maharashtrians) has time and again attacked the federal structure of the country by resorting to violence. Bollywood personalities including Amitabh Bachan and his wife Jaya have been threatened for showing allegiance to their mother tongue Hindi. Recently, film director, Karan Johar was threatened and the screening of his film was stopped by the MNS and Johar had to apologise to Thackeray. His fault: He used Bombay in place of Mumbai in the movie. There have been many incidents in the past when students from UP and Bihar have been chased and beaten up by MNS cadres for appearing in the competitive examinations in Maharashtra drawing criticism from all quarters.

With four of its firebrand MLA's suspended for four years, Raj Thackeray and MNS have suffered a huge blow, but this could also be a blessing in disguise as such incidents in the past helped Thackeray gain ground in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. Despite, Mumbaikars condemning violence by MNS goons in the past, large numbers of them voted for the party in the recently concluded Maharashtra elections. What the future holds for this cosmopolitan city is anybody's guess.