Mumbai for all: RSS

vIndianz.com (1 Feb, 2009) — New Delhi/Mumbai: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has opposed the Shiv Sena’s and Raj Thackeray’s Mumbai-for-Marathis line.

Mohan-Bhagwat The criticism drew a sharp reaction from the Sena, giving the impression of war within the Parivar.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat came out in support of north Indians facing attacks in Mumbai. “Mumbai is for all Indians,” Bhagwat said. “Whole of India is for all Indians and all Indians can earn livelihood anywhere in India.”

“Language, caste, sub-castes, groups, tribes can be different, but all are sons of India,” the RSS chief said, adding that “this is a misconception that employment has decreased at our place (Maharashtra) because of migrants… A solution to this grievance should be found, but the solution is not that you refuse people of your country to migrate to your area,” The Indian Express reported

RSS leader Ram Madhav went a step further.

“The Sangh Parivar has asked its volunteers in Maharashtra to try and prevent the spread of anti-north Indian and anti-Hindi feelings,” Madhav told reporters in Jabalpur.

The RSS, Madhav said, was opposed to discrimination on the basis of language, and demanded steps to check disturbances on the issue. “There should be no discrimination on the basis of language,” he said in reply to a question. “The Sangh is of the strong view that India is one from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.”

In Mumbai, former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi reacted sharply.

Asked by reporters for a reaction to the war of words, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari — whose party is in alliance with the Sena in Maharashtra — took a cautious line. “I will first speak to the RSS chief on what he has said, understand what his views are, and then react,” Gadkari said in Bangalore.

The RSS chief’s remarks come after the observations like Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani and Sha Rukh Khan.

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