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3M is just wondering if Bangladeshis sneak into our country like this!

'Bangaldeshi Raj' - My letter to Outlook Magazine

In response to the cover story of Outlook Magazine “The New Enemy” (September 3, 2012), 3M had sent a letter to the editor explaining the background to Raj Thackeray’s speech. And this is what they printed.

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Branding Raj Thackeray’s MNS a communal party is fallacious — given that hundreds of his Muslim followers joined the August 21 rally.

BHARAT GOTHOSKAR, MUMBAI

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But 3M would like the readers of this blog to see the original letter. So here it is...

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Bangladeshi Raj

Your cover story, The New Enemy (Sept 3), has fallaciously branded Raj Thackeray’s MNS as a communal party though hundreds of his Muslim followers had joined the Aug 21 rally. It is imperative to understand Raj’s political philosophy to comprehend his Azad Maidan speech. He believes that all states in India have become virtual sub-nations and that the leaders of Hindi migrants in Mumbai are trying to destabilize the body politic of Maharashtra, a sub-nation of Marathi people. Now Bangladeshis are adding fuel to the fire. He has defined this sub-nationality as ‘Maharashtra Dharma’. This concept was developed by various saints and administrators since the 11^th Century including Malik Ambar (a Muslim) and was finally adopted by Chhatrapati Shivaji as the founding principle of the Maratha Empire. In fact Lokmanya Tilak used the essence of ‘Maharashtra Dharma’ to build the concept of ‘Swarajya’ which in turn formed the core of Indian Independence Movement. ‘Maharashtra Dharma’ is to be understood as all-inclusive, secular and just governance that is averse to ‘foreign interventions’. Though Raj wants to restrict himself to his state, the media has ironically made him a national leader with Hindutva leanings!

Bharat Gothoskar, Mumbai

Raj Thackeray 'Frankly Speaking' with Arnab Goswami on Times Now

For those who missed the interview on air... but are irritated to watch 14 different clips on Times now Channel of Youtube, here is the complete interview.

Eco-friendly Ganapati

We all know that Ganapatis made of Plaster of Paris and lead based paints harm the environment. But do we have an option? 3M was pleasantly surprised to see Eco-friendly Ganapatis across Mumbai. They are made from 'Shadu' (Natural Clay) and painted using Halad (Turmeric), Kunku (Vermillion) & Multani Mati (Fuller Earth). So make the right choice this festive season... Be kind to Mother Earth!

Complete Speech of Raj Thackeray at Azad Maidan on 21th Aug 2012

For those who do not comprehend Marathi, please read this English translation.

Ek Tha Tiger?... NO! 'Ekta Tiger'

Image Courtesy: Mumbai Mirror

This poster was seen during a Shiv Sena rally protesting against the 12 Aug CST riots. Interestingly the word 'Ekta' has 2 meanings in Marathi 'Only' and 'Lonely'... You decide which is more apt! 

Raj Thackeray's MNS invites Mumbaikars for a March to protest CST Riots

3M is pleased to see that this letter by Raj Thackeray is bereft of any Anti-Muslim rhetoric... but strongly condemns Maharashtra Administration and Police chief for emasculating the Police force! Surprisingly, the original champion of Hindutva is doing nothing except writing fiery articles in Samanaa!

Today's Navakaal Newspaper mentions that the police force at large is unhappy about the way they have been treated and hence their family members are going to participate in the MNS morcha in a big way on 21st August 2012! The morcha (March) will start from Girgaon Choupati at 12 noon and will end at Azad Maidan. The Maharashtra administration is reluctant to give permission for this event as 'it may cause trouble in the city'!

The Video below clearly shows that Police Commissioner Arup Pattnaik is dissuading his juniors from taking action against the rioters!

Ramazan Mubarak by Shiv Sena

3M suddenly came across this Shiv Sena banner in Dharavi... So we can expect some Zaffrani (Saffron) Biryani in Dharavi Iftars this season?

No cash for Thackeray Sr!

Image Courtesy: Satish Acharya

The mysterious case of missing 'Thackeray Sr'

Departing from the norm, yesterday's front page ad in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamana does not have the image of its supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. Though 3M shrugged it off as an outlier, the same omission is repeated in today's paper! And now we get the news that Thackeray Sr is missing from the Mira Bhayander Election campaign... Is Uddhav Thackeray trying to carve out an independent image given his father's ill health?