Whose Mumbai is it anyway?

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">"<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mumbai Aamchi, Nahi Kunachya Bapachi</span>" (Mumbai belongs to us, not to anyone''s father), "<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mumbai Tumchi, Bhandi Ghasa Aamchi</span>" (Mumbai is yours, but you work as our domestic servants). These popular slogans of 60s, separating Marathi and non-Marathi speaking people in Mumbai, are bound to surface in old Mumbaikars'' mind today as they celebrate Maharashtra Din, 43rd anniversary of formation of Maharashtra state.<br /><br />The slogans, or rather the politics behind them, have special significance for this year''s Maharashtra Din since once again the issue of large influx to Mumbai, causing unmitigated miseries to this beautiful city bringing it to its present deteriorated status and Mumbaikars and non-Mumbaikars has surfaced again.<br /><br />Shiv Sena, whose very birth in 1967 and subsequent popularity was based on the "sons of the soil" theory, has once again started singing the same tune, but in different tone and different voice. Now it is not the same old voice of Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray, but that of generation next, his son and Sena Working President Uddhav Thackeray. He recently launched a movement "<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Aamhi Mumbaikar</span>" (We, the people of Mumbai).<br /><br />The old tone that of ''Mumbai is only for Marathi-speaking people'' has also been changed now. Uddhav is not banking on the sons of the soil theory, but definitely talks of stopping further influx to Mumbai and preventing its further worsening condition. He has probably understood that there is no point now in hurting feelings of non-Marathi speaking people in Mumbai by using strong language of throwing them out as it is neither possible nor politically correct.<br /><br />Politically incorrect because this does not fit into the Sena''s Hindu agenda as well as since the Sena has started spreading out its wings also. Uddhav was in Delhi during the last three days and talked of taking Sena to other states. So neither can he upset Mumbaikars from other states, nor Hindus in general from any part of the country.<br /><br />Thus he is chose a cleaver via media. He said all those who were residents of the metro till 1995 are Mumbaikars. Those who came after are outsiders. He is now talking of stopping influx and improving Mumbai with the co-operation of those outsiders who came here before 1995. But there are less chances for his gamble of creating a dividing line of 1995 to succeed. He even had an informal meet with prominent Mumbaikars from non-Marathi speaking communities over Mumbai''s problems. It included Javed Akhtar, Sanjay Khan, Hafeez Contractor, Sunil Shetty and others. ''Bravo'', Mr Thackeray, for a politically suitable fine balancing act on a rope which is so tight that it can break any time.<br /><br />Yes, Mumbai''s situation is like a rope with so much of strain on it that it is on the breaking point. There is no point in giving statistics of population, number of slums, water shortage, garbage generation etc. All are aware of it. Although, no controversy and division should be created on the lines of ''insiders'' and ''outsiders'', one thing is clear that the city''s limit to absorb the people is over far back. It''s time to think on this line. Uddhav, may be for political gains, but is trying to do it. But he immediately met with stiff resistance from some quarters on his point of stopping influx. <br /><br />Common Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai do have strong views on the issue of ''dominance of outsiders''. They feel that they have been suppressed by ''outsiders'' and are not getting the place they deserve in their own capital. Though their concern is genuine and right, it is for them only to find out and then overcome their own shortcomings.<br /><br />One reason for their loose grip on the metro is of course in their lack of economic power. Realising this, another generation next in Thackeray clan and Uddhav''s cousin, Raj found out a ''brave'' solution. He asked Marathi people to earn money by any method. His statement evoked enough controversy.<br /><br />So, Mumbai and Marathi Manoos is again on the centrestage, thanks to Thackerays. But, let it not prove to be only a temporary poll plank, as many feel it to be sena''s election stunt.</div> </div>