Maharastra Sadan in New Delhi took the first hit allegedly as a reaction to the ongoing violence against north Indians in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Sadan houses the liaison office and guest house of the state government.

The Sadan was vandalized by a group of about 25 people who arrived in small groups to deceive the security at the Sadan. They suddenly started damaging the reception area causing a loss of about Rs.2 lakhs worth of property. The miscreants were demanding the immediate arrest of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi was attacked by activists of the Rashtravadi Shiv Sena, protesting attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra.

While this attack can in no way be justified, this seems to be a natural reaction to the hooliganism unleashed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and others in Maharashtra.

In a signed statement quoted by the Press Trust of India, some eminent Maharashtrians in the capital said they were “appalled and anguished” by the recent attacks on north Indians in Mumbai and want the government to thwart “regional chauvinists” who are engaged in “dangerous games for electoral gains.” Regional chauvinism jeopardizes the very future of Maharashtrian youth in whose name the chauvinists are agitating, they said adding that failure to check and punish the chauvinist forces will be detrimental to the vital interests of Maharashtra.

However, one wonders as to why they had to wait for the attack on Maharashtra Sadan or fear of reprisal to issue a statement that should have been issued when Maharashtra was burning. That would have strengthened the hands of the government and helped the government to deal with the miscreants more sternly.

From my school days I have been taking the pledge which says: “India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters...” Anybody or any organization that challenges this is anti-national. Through their activities, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have proved that they are divisive forces.

Also, the Indian government needs to crack down on all kinds of armies in India whether it is Shiv Sena, MNS, Ranbir Sena or any other. We cannot afford to have any army in India other than the Indian army.

The Maharashtrians need to dump the self proclaimed godfathers of the so-called Maharashtrian cause. They should learn to be Indians first and Maharashtrians after that. They must remember that they carry an Indian passport. The nation comes first. And, they need to be more vocal about it.

All that these self proclaimed godfathers of the Maharashtrian cause are doing is to create insecurity for the lives and property of Maharashtrians and kicking up a national problem. We must oppose this tooth and nail. And, this opposition must begin at home.