Mumbai is one of the world’s finest cosmopolitan cities. Its mix of diverse cultures and harmonious mingling of different communities makes it a unique metropolis. Mumbai’s glory cannot be attributed to any particular class or community but is a consequence of the combined industry and efforts of several citizens of our country.

The outlook of our founding fathers who included eminent Maharashtrians and the judicial philosophy of some great Maharashtrian judges of our Supreme Court — Justices Gajendragadkar, Chandrachud, Tulzapurkar and Tarkunde — was not parochial. They believed that “the people of the several states must sink or swim together and that in the long run prosperity and salvation are in union and not division”. They did not subscribe to the obnoxious doctrine that would forcibly exclude fellow Indians from living and working in Maharashtra. If this doctrine is implemented the repercussions would be horrendous. Gujaratis cannot work and live in Rajasthan; Maharashtrian engineers, doctors, accountants and lawyers cannot practise in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar and so on. The national stream would inevitably be polluted.

It is argued that the success of Mumbai and Maharashtra has been achieved by the sweat of the toiling Maharashtrian masses. That is partly true. However, that is an iniquitous feature of the working of our economic system, which is detrimental to workers throughout India and is not confined to Maharashtra alone. The claim that Maharashtrian workers should have a better share of the cake, by way of labour welfare schemes, removal of slums, preference for Maharashtrians in employment, merits consideration. However, the blatant outburst of violence against non-Maharashtirans who have been living peacefully in the state and the threat to repeat the same with impunity is totally unacceptable. That is plain and simple goonda raj that cannot be justified on any score. It should be unequivocally condemned by all enlightened citizens, including leading Maharashtrians.

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