Is Mumbai only for Maharashtrians?

GN Bureau | September 5, 2012



Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has called for a "permit-system" for checking the influx of migrants from Bihar into Mumbai. The Sena's parochial politics has been on since the times of Uddhav's father, Balasaheb. Political analysts believe it is a push at outshouting Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's 'Marathi manoos' jingo. Mumbai is already strained by its population — resources are dwindling and the infrastructure is crumbling; it can ill-afford to have more people come in. At the same time, the Sena brand of narrow politics could tear apart the nationalistic fabric (violence against Biharis in 2009-10, against tamils in the 70s-80s, both in Mumbai, against northeasterners in Pune in 2012).

So, our poser is if Mumbai belongs to the Maharashtrians alone and the rest may only enter with permits, of which there shall only be a few released. Or should the cosmopolitan character of Bombay be upheld?

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