PXylem

'Sons of the soil' - yes, it sounds striking, impressive, dramatic enough to stir people's mind, to hit their psyche and make them blind, fanatic and insane. Politicians often organise campaigns, movements under this steering slogan to stimulate the tender patriotic feelings of general masses for their own benefits and profits.

These are the campaigns on which divisive politics strives and sustains itself. Political violence, political killings following divisive politics have many times shaken the very roots of Indian nation and tried to destroy its unity and integrity.

Last month India's cosmopolitan city Mumbai witnessed the cruel form of ‘sons of the soil' campaign. The political violence triggered off when MNS activists had a clash with Samajwati Party supporters, who were present for a rally at Shivaji Park in the Dadar area of Central Mumbai. MNS men afterwards gathered at various places in Dadar and shouted slogans against Biharis and north Indians.

They assaulted taxi drivers, damaged taxis, attacked taxi-men's union office. In other cities in Maharashtra, MNS men targeted temporary migrants, the construction workers and labourers. They harassed them and made them speak Marathi. They also compelled them to leave the state.

This was not the first time when such campaigns, agitations have snatched the livelihood of many, rendered them homeless and create disparity among people of the same country.

Couple of years ago, Assam politics also witnessed the simple scenario. State's hardcore militant group started attacking Hindi speaking people as outsiders.

Emotions relating to one's religion, community, language and caste are delicate one. Politicians have power to construct the nations but they must not use this power to destroy unity among people by manipulating these tender feelings and emotions. We are, and have one nation. We have one 'Indian' culture. No matter we hail from different states, different regions but we all are one race.

MNS leader Raj Thackeray doesn't suffer but the sufferers are those who struggle for their daily survival. MNS has given a bad name to Mumbai, the cosmoplitan city of the country.

The violence caused by his party men has exposed his political immaturity. He tried to reap the political benefits by moving Marathi manas. Nevertheless, the recent violence in Mumbai showed his political opportunistic disposition.

If we keep aside MNS and its reactionary measures, the respective government of Biharis and UPites must do something concrete so that its people get employment in their own state and they don't have to migrate to other states for the search of basic amenities of life - food, shelter and house.

The respective government and its leaders are also responsible for the present mess. They haven't paid attention to the development of the state. They must be questioned by the people and blamed squarely for the present turmoil and victimisation they have been undergoing of no fault of their own. Moreover, pressure must be created on the central government so that such incidents never happen again and again in different parts of India. Moreover, the central government must see there is equitable distribution of wealth, progress and development all over India, and not concentrated to a particular area or state.

Word by Pranati Saikia