Bummer!

A girl was arrested on Sunday, for commenting against the bandh observed in Mumbai. Her statement was “People like Thackeray are born and die daily and one should not observe a ‘bandh’ for that.”

Are we living in anarchy? How ridiculous can Maharashtra government get, acting crazy in the wake of Thackeray’s loss. The matter just doesn’t closes here; a friend of hers who liked the comment was also arrested and though they got bailed out in few hours after apologizing, this incident reflects about the methodology of working of the police department in Mumbai. Till I wrote this article, the PD didn’t took any notice of the girl’s uncle condition whose office was ransacked after this incident by a Shiv Sena mob whose major pastime is taking voluntary measures at slightest of provocation. Well done Shiv Sena for yet again proving that nothing can get past you unharmed.

                Some rumours speculate that police deliberately arrested the girls to protect them from getting matter worse. If that’s the case, then congrats to PD for devising a new way to control things around. It’s like buying ten pairs of defective jeans to cut the cost of buying one branded one or getting a plastic helmet for a steel one. A temporary solution can’t waver their adamence.

The suit filed against them was hurting religious sentiments. Seriously??? I am sorry but I don’t see her statement anyway near touching a religious sentiment let alone hurting them. You arrest this individual over a social networking comment and you don’t pay heed to the violence put up by the Shiv Sena workers; this is your discernment. This is the height of illogical judgement.

                Isn’t it written quite clearly in the Constitution of INDIA that every citizen has the right to Freedom of Speech? What do we have to do to exercise our rights without being hampered by a political party whose leader was known to change his political ideologies to suit the mood of the day. Our leaders especially the Shiv Sainiks have such low tolerance that using them to organise riots and bandhs is a walk in the park.

                If the conditions are to be improved, it has to start from this virtual core, the leaders needs to inculcate some tolerance towards religious, emotional and critical remarks. A sound mind, healthy thought process and ability to take criticism (tolerance) are the biggest quality of a leader and we need to see those in our present leaders. I respect Bal Thackeray as a political leader (may his soul rest in peace) and I know his party were bummed by his loss but burning houses and ransacking shops isn’t the solution. Its time to stay calm and build a Mumbai that everyone wants to live in.