Mangalore's Taliban: Is Pramod Muthalik's Hindutva=Hinduism?

Pramod Muthalik, the chief of Sri Ram Sena, symbolises what is wrong with our society. Anybody who has a band of ruffians and can create trouble or flirt with the law-and-order, becomes bigger than the law.

You or I will get harassed by the cops and official machinery. But if you have a saffron shawl slung on your shoulder and you can force your way in with goons, you can enjoy power over every institution.

Pramod Muthalik has dozens of criminal cases against him. In his speeches, he talks about making bombs and engineering communal clashes. His outfit has attacked Churches and the recent attack on pubs in just a reflection of what has band of vandals is capable of.

But when the BJP government came to power, it withdrew several cases that were registered against him. The BJP's claim of a party with a difference have long been exposed, as its cadre engage in violence.

The party uses them to further its plans. When it doesn't need them, it washes its hands off them. That's why the Sangh Parivar remains a danger to this country. After turning Gujarat into a hate lab, this experiment is now on in South India's Karnataka.

Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) terrorises North Indians, Shiv Sena terrorises Hindi speakers and the Kannadigas over Belgaum issue and Sri Ram Sene terrorises Chrisitans and women. They are all criminals but have no law applicable to them.

Sadly, in Indian society citizen has no right. Of course, hooligan has all rights. It is because citizens remain mute spectators to violence, whether it is in the name of caste, religion, region or any other damn issue.

And when these hooligans target them, there is nobody to speak for them. Shame on all of us for letting Hinduism hijacked by Hindutva-vadis.

Raj Thackeray questions Amitabh's loyalty to Maharashtra

Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray seems to be living in a make-believe world and believes that sensational statements and xenophobic comments will make him the Bal Thackeray of future.

Poor Raj doesn't understand that times have changed. Modern India doesn't have a place for such crazy chaps. Raj Thackeray had the audacity to ask questions about the reason Amitabh contested election from Allahabad, later became brand ambassador of Uttar Pradesh and doesn't do much for the state where he lives.

So who is Mr Raj Thackeray to test patriotism of Amitabh Bachchan or any other person. Such statements are terribly against the idea of India, as extreme regionalism hurts national unity for which Thackeray's erstwhile party has always been a claimant.

It was a different era when Bal Thackeray had targeted South Indians and later Muslims, to create the atmosphere of fear. It was the frustration of middle-class and poor Marathi youths that was a reason for Bal Thackeray's rise.

Raj is making wild statements. He doesn't like the Chhat puja, and calls it a 'Naatak', a drama. By making outsiders including people from UP and Bihar as target, he hopes to emerge as a son of soil, a Marathi leader.

Ironically in this country, hatespeak is yet to be treated as a serious crime. And rogue politicians enjoy a sort of immunity from the law. Just like others who have multiple identities, Amitabh is not just a UPite, but also an artiste and a Kayastha.

But if the Navnirman Sena leader dares to question the loyalty of any person, whether a film star or a taxi-driver from Allahabad or Alappuzha (Kerala), by his narrow interpretatation, we can surely question his loyalty to India.