Raj, you let us down!!!!

The dramatic episode which transpired on the 9th of November, 2009 in the temple of Maharashtrian politics, which can only be mildly put as “utterly shameful” was unfortunately scripted the one who was heralded as a man that bought with him a new hope and vision of a reinvigorated and thriving Maharashtra.

We, the silent majority feel let down by the man who not so long ago promised us to bring a new approach to politics devoid of petty gimmicks and bereft of all the populist yet crippling measures that were playing havoc with the growth and development of our beloved state and had brought the social and financial development of the state to its knees.




Many like me who anxiously waited outside his Shivaji Park residence holding on for dear life on the unsteady foothold on the wall had hoped for so much more and instead were delivered so little.




We could see the same fire burning in him that we could feel in many others like me, who wanted to part of a real change that he had assured of delivering. We were ready to back him to the hilt and more to take Mumbai and Maharashtra to its rightful place in India and the world,

He talked of development and progress of the state yet shunned all measures that could cause any animosity between fellow Indians, no matter where they were from. He was aggressive and impatient, but only to get Maharshtra to the top and cast-aside all the elements and instruments that had been an impediment towards this common dream.

When he launched his party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on the hallowed ground of Shivaji Park, where we, his staunchest supporters stood shoulder to shoulder was greeted by a man who instilled in us a sense of pride of something that we, presumably believed, were on the threshold of embarking upon.



His words called out for uniting against a common enemy, misgovernance, corruption, unfounded hatred and misdirected aggression. He gave the analogy of Irfan Khan, the new Indian hero, and enquired to his gripped audience as to whether we could ever hate him for being a non-Maharashtrian or should we hail him as the hero he was for bringing glory to the nation and demolishing the enemies of the field.

The crowd went ecstatic every time he spoke and the at times the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Like me, many could see in Raj, the true ‘deliverer of good’ that we had prayed for so long.

However, little had we realize that this mirage of hope mirroring heavenly grandeur was to come down like a pack of cards during a raging tsunami. (Pardon the hyperbole, it’s always seems unrealistic when you try to pen down what you feel inside)



Then came around the first test for the MNS by way of the BMC election. Although the party didn’t do well, no one amongst us lost hope. We all knew that great transformation and achievements have even greater gestation periods, and it is only after many stops and starts that true results become apparent and head towards ultimate realization.

But, Raj seemed to think otherwise. He quickly seemed to run out of patience. The recent election results seemed to have hit him hard. Maybe he wasn’t able to deliver on his own expectations, although we were far from losing hope.



Soon, things turned for the worst. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which loosely resembled the Congress party at the time of the Freedom Struggle and Independence, who were hell-bent on delivering results through constructive activism and concerted proactiveness was taking up the role of a militia, whose only means of achieving results was brute force, intimidation and potent coercion.

By now many like me started to feel disillusioned by his new approach and started questioning ourselves as to whether this was the new Maharashtra that we had hoped for and whether this was even worth fighting for.

This unexpected and sensational volte-face by Raj had left me bewildered and dumbfounded. Everyday, there was news of MNS workers stirring up trouble, only the issue and excuses change. However, the most important issue of them all seemed to have been sidelined that of Maharshtra and the development of its people, and taking it to the zenith of its glory and wonder.



All the unruly scenes of ransacking and physical attacks culminated in the event that transpired on Monday. How things change I ask myself, as if in an instant. The hope that he brought has been replaced by fear.

He used to reign over our hearts, now he is reigns over our fear. I’m sure, that’s not the Raj he had in mind. How unfortunate!