It’s Just Not On
Virus of intolerance shows up again in Karnataka riots Democratic values enshrined in the Constitution are under renewed attack, this time in Karnataka. Following the publication of a translated version of controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen's article which is critical of the burqa tradition in a respected Kannada daily, mobs have [...]
P. Sainath: Advertising, Bollywood, Corporate power
That the terrible tragedy in Pune demands serious, sober coverage is a truism. One of the side-effects of the ghastly blast has been unintended, though. The orgy of self-congratulation that marked the media coverage of just about everything since January is now in pause mode. Maybe the flak they copped for their handling of the November 2008 [...]
Ghetto Blasters
It was a moment to savour, a victory for civility. A moment when young India pushed back against old politics and the sowers of division. The moment may not last. Old-style politics which likes to segregate Indians into multiple ghettos and silos will doubtless win many victories in the future. But when Mumbaikars ensured that My Name Is Khan [...]
Saying No to Sena
Shah Rukh Khan’s remark that IPL teams were misguided in not hiring talented Pakistani cricketers has ignited what is one of the silliest and the most egregious turf wars in recent times, even by Mumbai’s sorry standards. The Shiv Sena immediately switched to its default mode, threatening and executing violence, against the screening of [...]
Tiger Fit For The Taxidermist
With its tardy and woefully inadequate response to the Shiv Sena's latest depredations in Mumbai, the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra has yet again exposed its inability or unwillingness to impose the rule of law on the errant outfit. The pathetic display of its helplessness cannot but cause dismay to the citizens of the metropolis and [...]
Meena Menon: Fear is the key
The Shiv Sena, still smarting under Rahul Gandhi’s whiplash suburban train ride, has shown that it cannot be so easily written off. The Shahrukh Khan starrer My Name is Khan is not going to be released on Friday as slated. The Sena’s timeworn terror tactics have worked once again to create an atmosphere of uncertainty in Mumbai and many parts [...]
In CM Chavan’s court
Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan may well have decreed that Shiv Sena workers would not be allowed to run riot at cinema halls showing Shahrukh Khan’s movie, My name is Khan. He must, however, be resolute and put down such strong arm tactics with force. It is not enough to deploy home guards at some cinemas. What is under attack is not [...]
Game Plan
Two politicians flew down to Mumbai last week and conducted business in contrasting styles. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi brushed aside threats from Shiv Sena and took a train to Dadar, the heart of Sena politics in the city. Soon after, Union minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar drove to Matoshree, home of Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, [...]
Sanjeev Sanyal: Can Mumbai be our Global Champion?
To whom does Mumbai belong? This is a question that has simmered for years and has now blown up into a major national controversy. For Mumbai, it is a question that is fundamental to its very existence as India’s pre-eminent financial, commercial and cultural hub. At a time that India is re-emerging as a major player on the world stage, its [...]
Only Connect
Rahul Gandhi turned a challenge from the Shiv Sena into an opportunity to reach out to a cross-section of Mumbai. He outwitted Sena leaders as he met people on the street, rode a local train and interacted with college students during his visit to the city on Friday. In the process, he not only blunted Sena's lowbrow rhetoric but also presented [...]