Posted on: Feb 18, '08
So who are the real Mumbaikars? Maharashtrians or Kolis?
Gosh! The issue of Mee Mumbaikar refuses to die out. Yesterday's Sunday Mid Day ran a story about Kolis speaking up against the MNS' menace in the last few days.
It is a known fact that Kolis are the original inhabitants of Mumbai. After what MNS morons are doing to the "outsiders", the Koli community has spoken out. Their stance is that firstly, Mumbai doesn't belong to the people who are throwing North Indians out because they themselves come from different parts of Maharashtra rather than being from Mumbai. Makes sense. Just like North Indians are outsiders in Mumbai, even if they are in India, the other guys are as much outsiders because they are from other parts of the state rather than being from Mumbai.
The Kolis have expressed their disgust about the fact that if they being the original inhabitants don't have a problem with North Indians working here, what business do the MNS, SS guys have objecting to it.
The Kolis have grossly been marginalized over the years. There are only about 5 lakhs of them and they let people from other regions settle here and have themselves been neglected. And look at what we all are doing to the city! Their business has suffered greatly because North Indians and other Maharashtrians go to the fish market even before the Kolis themselves can go there to sell their products. But they are still objecting.
The Koli community hints that if the MNS, Shiv Sena etc are willing to live in peace in the city and live others live peacefully, they can stay here. But they are going to resort to violence and throw other Indians out, they can leave the city too. How can the MNS and SS claim to love Mumbai if they are destroying the city with hatred?
Anyway, Mumbai belongs as much to any Indian who wants to settle here as it does to the Kolis and Maharashtrians
Tags: mumbai, riots, politics, maharashtrians, mns, shiv sena
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