Who loves you self styled Fasist

Raj’s pledge to allow Chhath Puja has no believers

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, November 3, 2008

Although Raj Thackeray and his MNS thugs climbed down and said okay to Chhath Puja, the damage has been done.

It left many who returned home emotionally bruised and shattered. Madan and Ranjeet, both brothers from Kanke, are among those who fled from Mumbai under extreme condition with scars of MNS brutality deep upon their psyche.

Now, they will celebrate Chhath puja along with their family member but MNS sponsored violence took toll of their enthusiasm and gusto.

"Yes, we will celebrate festival with the same verve but the moment I recollect the incidents how MNS men tortured and mauled us in the street and threatened us with dire consequences if we continue to make Mumbai our home, I get frightened… it pains." Madan gets lost in emotion while sharing some of the recent horrible moments of his life.

To the family members of Madan and Ranjeet, it was the grace of the goddess that saved their lives. There are many such families in Ranchi who made special prayer pledges prior to Chhath puja if their family members in Mumbai come back safely or remain safe there.

But there are some unfortunate families whose members either sustained severe injuries by MNS activists. The worried family members of Ramu Das are desperately trying to find out his whereabouts since it is suspected that MNS desperados have allegedly murdered him. While another Marki Devi is under treatment, her family members are trying to maintain mental poise.

Chandrawati, the wife of Ramu Das, is finding it hard to accept the reality, ever since the politics over Chhath changed the contours and colour of her life. While political parties are capitalising the issue, the neighbours of Ramu Das decided not to celebrate Chhath with fervor. "We lost our friend and we decided to celebrate Chhath with simplicity," said Kailash, the co-villager of Ramu.

Swearing not to return to Mumbai, Ranjeet who now decided to start his own business here narrated some horrors of the icebergs of MNS vendetta. "It was terrifying when MNS men asked us to leave Mumbai and announced they would not allow Chhath puja at sea beach or in any part of Mumbai.

Last time they managed to put a ban on our cultural get together calling it a vulgar and provocative display of UP and Bihar culture." Another victim, Santosh Chaudhary, working with a reputed pharmaceutical company who returned home after receiving threats, said, "Unlike last time this year I did not find myself so happy when I visited my home town for puja celebration. Why does this self-styled champion of Hinduism hate Chhath puja when even people from other religions celebrate it, may god bless him."