People in Maharashtra
celebrated ‘Marathi Bhasha Divas’ on February 27 and the long-pending demand of
granting ‘classical language’ status to Marathi once again gained momentum. In
this backdrop, on one hand scholars, litterateurs, journalists, and the think
tanks enthusiastically praised the language, but on the other hand none
expressed their dislike for the current vituperation in the Maharashtra
politics.
On the contrary, some
took to the social media citing instances and pointing out that this style of
liberal political culture has been prevalent. It is indeed a pity that these
well-read journalists, scholars, and the think tank, setting aside their
obsession for certain political outfits, could have shown the audacity to
express their views on the current situation and raised objection against the
ruling alliance in the state. But it seems that this congregation is in no mood
to tarnish, neither their writing nor their right to express.
It has been over two
years since the alliance government came to power. The people who fall in the
thoughtful and well-read category must recollect the events that have happened
over this period. Maharashtra has been experiencing Shiv Sena’s dictatorial
regime from the time it began targeting actor Kangana Ranaut by conveniently interpreting
her views. Also, the party’s intolerance was seen when action was taken against
Union minister Narayan Rane in connection with the alleged unauthorised
construction of his bungalow.
People have not yet
forgotten how a retired naval officer was beaten up inside his house in Mumbai
for posting the caricature of chief minister on the social media.
Also, the instance of
Anant Karmuse being dragged to the minister, Jitendra Awhad’s bungalow and
being beaten up is still fresh in the minds of the people. But no one, even
from the ruling alliance government, bothered to object to the use of a cabinet
minister’s bungalow for an act like this.
Many activists of the
Bharatiya Janata Party have faced musings for this style of intolerance from
the incumbent government machinery. Despite a relentless display of intolerance
and dictatorship, the intelligentsia is not ready to give up on its silence. It
may be recalled that during the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government in power in
the state from 1995 to 1999, these journalists and thinkers were not hesitant
but had gone berserk criticising the ruling ‘Shiv Sena’.
The suspicious death of
Ramesh Kini, attack on the bungalow of the then leader of Opposition in the
Legislative Council Chhagan Bhujbal by the Shiv Sainiks, the riots of Ramabai
Ambedkar Nagar and such other incidents were always criticised and talked about
by this fraternity.
These people were always
on a lookout for an opportunity to hold the Shiv Sena leadership on edge. The
common man wonders if this fearlessness of journalists has disappeared in the
course of time or is it because Shiv Sena is now against the BJP, these people
do not have the courage to show their fearlessness.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut
recently used abusive language during his press conference held at the Shiv
Sena Bhawan in Dadar. However, not a single news channel nor any
editor-in-chief of any leading publication commented their dislike towards the
use of such atrocious language. They, instead refrained from even commenting on
the use of such language. Was it done deliberately or was there any other
reason for this behaviour?
The sensitisation
exhibited by the journalists and the think tank during the tenure of the
government under the leadership of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, i.e., from
November 2014 to November 2019 vis-à-vis the silence shown by this fraternity
in the last two-and-a-quarter years is incomprehensible.
The BJP never objected
to the statements about the Modi government or the Fadnavis government from the
media.
During this period
people also saw how the so-called liberals were returning the awards conferred
upon them and some others calling the country unsafe to live. Also, once during
the coalition government, the Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray had
criticised the writers for taking Rs 25 lakh from the government at the Sahitya
Sammelan held in Mumbai. Balasaheb had questioned if the writers weren’t
ashamed of their deed. In response to this, one of the famous poets – Vasant
Bapat, came down strongly on Balasaheb Thackeray’s controversial remarks.
Bapat had said, “If you
feel that by slapping Rs 25 lakh you can shut our mouths, you are wrong. We
haven’t sold our souls yet. No matter how hard a dictator tries, the common man
can ‘smash the remote control and trash it’.” Many journalists might recollect
how the litterateurs had geared up against this remark. Also, people haven’t
forgotten the manner in which Ramesh Kini’s suspicious death was covered by the
then media.
We always welcome
journalists’ obsession to seek the truth. But unfortunately, we fail to
apprehend why this obsession faded out during the search for the 19 missing
bungalows in Korlai (Dist. Raigad).
The party spokesperson
had asserted during the press conference that there are no such bungalows in
the said location. It is indeed a pity that despite the concerned person
presenting all the necessary evidence sought from the gram panchayat about the
existence of the bungalows, no one bothered to question the former about it. If
the investigative journalists feel that the subject of 19 non-existent
bungalows does not merit further investigation, matter ends.
Almost a year-and-a-half
ago, Kirit Somaiya had raised the issue of this bungalows at Korlai in Raigad
district not being mentioned in the election document filed by the incumbent
chief minister while submitting his Legislative Council’s election candidature.
Surprisingly, none of
the journalists felt the need to investigate into or substantiate Somaiya’s
allegations. One need not tell the newshawk the ‘news value’ of a story,
especially when there is documentary evidence substantiated with the allegation
levelled against the chief minister of a state. Still representatives of the
news channels kept on reiterating that there were no bungalows on the said
site.
The alliance government, on the other hand, is on a spree of initiating action against its opposition and we are not sure if the media persons have the courage or the will to dig deep into these matters. All said and done, this clearly proves that the intellectuals of today are looking at their political and philosophical conveniences before exercising their freedom of speech and expression. Hence, it will not be inappropriate to ask ‘Itna sannata kyu hai bhai….’
(Article Pre-Published in Times of India, 7 March 2022)
Keshav
Upadhye, chief spokesperson
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