'I am a great admirer of Hitler, and I am not ashamed to say so! I do not say that I agree with all the methods he employed, but he was a wonderful organizer and orator, and I feel that he and I have several things in common.... What India really needs is a dictator who will rule benevolently, but with an iron hand.' Balasaheb Thackrey to Asiaweek
From Marathi Manush to shaking hands with North Indians , Shiv Sena has set an examle how politicians can actually play with emotions of the people to enrich their vote bank. Shiv Sena ( Army of Shiv), referring to Shivaji , a right wing organization in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Balasaheb Thackrey currently headed by Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackrey . If we go back to the history, the party originally emerged out of a movement in Mumbai, broadly favouring increased influence of Maharashtrians in Maharashtra It built a strong base amongst the Marathi community in the sixties based on its ideology that Maharashtra belonged to the Marathi community and that they be given preference over migrants from other Indian states
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Shiv Sena known for vendalism Politically, the Sena was anti-communist, and wrested control of major trade unions in Mumbai from the Communist Party of India and demanded protection money (extortion) from mainly Gujarati and marwari business leaders. It later allied itself with the BJP over the common issue oF Hindu Nationalism which both parties believed in. During the tenure of the government from 1995 to 1999, Thackeray was nicknamed "remote control " since he played a major role in government policies and decisions from behind the scenes.
Thackeray a pro-Tamil Tiger. He says, "I am proud of the Tigers for the gallant manner in which they are fighting."
He also wanted a ban on the LTTE lifted by the center-wing government.A man who is anti North Indians , Muslim community which is quite evident from various statements and actions in the past ,
On March 6, 2008, Bal Thackeray issued an editorial titled Ek Bihari, Sau Bimari (One Bihari, Hundred maladies) in Saamna, Shiv Sena's political mouthpiece, saying Biharis were 'an unwanted lot' in the Maharashtra. In what was termed as an apparent bid to recapture his party's Marathi sons of soil plank, which was being hijacked by the MNS leader Raj Thackeray, Bal Thackeray wrote about Biharis,
'They [Biharis] are not wanted in southern India, Assam and also Punjab and Chandigarh. The Biharis have antagonised local population wherever they had settled. The UP-Bihari MPs have shown their ingratitude towards Mumbai and Maharashtra with an anti-Marathi tirade in Parliament.'He also denounced Bihari MPs, saying they were 'spitting in the same plate from which they ate' by criticising Mumbaikars and Maharashtrians. He also wrote, 'They are trying to add fuel to the fire that has been extinguished, by saying that Mumbaikars have rotten brains'. Additionally, he criticized a major holiday celebrated by people from Bihar, and eastern UP which happens six days after the Hindu New Year (Diwali) known as Chath Pooja. He said that it wasn't a real holiday.The outburst was apparently in response to MPs from Bihar who had disrupted the proceedings of the Lok Sabhae in protest against the attacks on North Indians.
Thackeray known as very vocal in his controversial opposition to people who migrate to Mumbai, to non-Hindus (especially Muslims), and to illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh. In the late 1960s to mid-1970s, as part of his 'Maharashtra is for Maharashtrians' campaign, Thackeray threatened migrants from South India with harm unless they left Mumbai.
In the 1960s he called South Indians Lungiwaale and Yanda Gandu and had slogans like Lungi Hatao Pungi bajao
'"They (Muslims) are spreading like a cancer and should be operated on like a cancer. The... country should be saved from the Muslims and the police should support them (Hindu Maha Sangh in their struggle just like the police in Punjab were sympathetic to the Khalistanis )Balasaheb Thackeray criticized and challenged Indian Muslims through his party newspaper, Sāmna, around the time the 16th century Babri Masjid was demolished by members of the Shiv Sena and the Bharat BJP in the northern town of on December 6, 1992. Hindus believe that the Babri Mosque was built on the demolished ruins of a Hindu temple in the 16th century, and consider it to be the Ram Janmabhoomi (birthplace of the Hindu God Rama ). The communal riots that followed the demolition of the mosque led to nearly a 1000 deaths and many enquiry committees constituted by the government have accused Shiv Sena and Thackeray of being involved in and coordinating the riots. Thackeray however has shown no regret till date and feels that he is proud of what he and his partymen did back in those days because he feels that if it was not for the Shiv Sena then no one would have been able to control the Muslims after the demolition of the mosque.
When i look at the past , i wonder how dirty one can get in politics and for power.
photo credits connect.in.com , bombay streets ,ibnlive,in,com
