Ever since I actively started following politics, have admired only one who actually had vision and not just vague talks or typical Pracharnama party of providing water, roads, electricity. I admired his political acumen which separated him from other rhetoric pseudo leaders. Raj Thackeray has always been able to carve out his own space in the political spectrum irrespective of his party winning or losing in the elections.
But now a days his decision are coming as a setback for a neutral supporter like me. Right when polls are around the corner he takes up such decisions which immediately back fires on him and his party resulting in annihilating setbacks. Back in 2014, from initially supporting Modi but criticising BJP led NDA. Initially saying his party will contest LS polls, then suddenly sending out press release to vote for NDA candidates in many areas. This resulted in a humiliating defeat in the state where even AAP had more of the vote share than MNS. Later, during state polls taking on PM Modi at such time when he had a huge Blueprint to talk about and spread that vision across the state. This further resulted into annihilation which brought his party from 29 MLAs in 2009, to just 1 in 2014.
And now, history seems to repeat itself. This time in his backyard, Mumbai. From taking a stand which was in support of public sentiment to suddenly favouring business houses, MNS seems to have created another hurdle just ahead of the BMC polls.
Post URI attacks, there was a huge sentiment for revenge across the country. Everyone wanted an eye for an eye. Though people's emotions were genuine, this was a perfect platform for any politician to cook up their favorite menu and store it for upcoming polls. MNS, hence, was no exception to this. Capitalising on the public sentiment, MNS gave an ultimatum to all Pakistani actors or technician in Mumbai to leave the city in next 48 hours or face the party workers wrath. On a normal day this would have gone unnoticed as a petty political stunt, but not this time. It received the mobs support as well as appreciation when they left the country within the given period. No other party spoke on this issue. Only MNS raised the concern that business cannot be as usual when that particular country is in war with us and killing our warriors.
So this credit was completely taken by MNS for being proactive and putting nation first. Just when the surgical strikes news came in, people were satisfied, for the Army had answered back in the wake of URI attack. Like always, mobs memory is always short-lived. People were happy and most of the anger had receded. Where some were asking to ban China products, PM Modi entered in some bilateral agreements with China on the sidelines of BRICS Summit in Goa.
Though the actors now had left the country, their movies were still a question. Karan Johar's movie Ae dil Ae Mushkil was now in the centre of controversy. Suddenly, few sections of Netizens had started a campaign for banning the movie. MNS too joined the bandwagon, and had asked theatre owners to not line up any shows of the movie. Even KJos late appeal to salvage something of his investment didn't had any impact on the campaign.
As it has been always, leaving few, film industry is only concerned about money. They try to display the most powerful emotion, love, in almost every film. Yet they do not posses the same for the nation. It's been seen in the past, it shall always be there even in future.
The controversy got heated up when those actors refused to condemn the attacks, instead supported their home country. So the film industry people met Home Minister of the country and CM of Maharashtra state to settle the issue. Both assured them support thus putting a dent in the campaign. MNS campaign for total ban was still on.
But as I said above, history repeated when Raj Thackeray made this blunder. Just when his political outfit was about to enjoy the brownie points out of all this, he just kicked away the entire platter. As per the press conference post meeting all stake holders at CMs official residence, MNS agreed for the release of the movie on certain conditions:
1. They shall be carrying a plaque in the memory of soldiers. (I remember my school days when in some random morcha we were given some plaque to hold on. Neither we knew what was written, nor did we implement it in our lives)
2. Contribute Rs.5 crore to Army Welfare Fund. (This is where everything was lost. It was like a bribe, in different sense though. People were angered for value of life was determined.)
3. Not to take any Pakistani actors. (Ofcourse, whose going to say NO here. For all they are concerned now is today's money and returns on the current investment)
By putting these childish reasons, MNS called back it's ban on the movie thus losing all the points it tried to capitalise on this hot cake. Like it's always, mobs memory is very short. All they will remember now is how they gave up their campaign after reaching to an settlement indoors. This will surely have an negative impact on the upcoming polls. It's the end which shall be visible which wasn't that great. Had even the full ban continued, without violence, MNS could have carved a space in city politics by showing they didn't budge inspite of so many bigwigs involved. Standing for a good cause and then retreating in the end by restoring the initial status quo makes the entire campaign a mere political stunt.
Now the impact of this decision shall be visible in February 2017. But for the time being MNS has lost the space it carved out just before official campaigning begins for BMC polls.
-SR.
