Shah Rukh Khan–Shiv Sena Face-Off: Wake up Bollywood, Wake up India

Our news channels have been completely devoted to Shah Rukh Khan and Shiv Sena face-off for the past more than a week. In the country where film stars are worshipped as deities, the face-off between the country’s top movie star and an attention- and popularity-hungry sectarian group makes a great dish for the media and the public. Although the same news airs on every news channel 24 x 7, out thirst for more never dies down. This very same news has transformed a chartbuster that we love to listen over again and again. It is no secret that the popularity of Shiv Sena has waned and reached a new depth in Shiv Sena-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) popularity competition. The last few years have witnessed the rise of MNS and the subsequent falling down of Shiv Sena in popularity. As the bankrupt banks finally resorted to government help for rescue following financial crisis, Shiv Sena has been waiting for the right time and right target to attack that will help boost and shoot up its popularity to a new height. Both the Senas champion Marathi manoos and do everything to lead in this competition by turning unconstitutional—promoting violence, boycotting government recruitment examinations for making open to every Indian, beating couples for holding hands while sitting in the park, beating taxi drivers for speaking Hindi to passengers, and pelting stones to lovers who celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Before, they targeted India’s sporting icon master blaster Sanchin Tendulkar. They were hopeful to gain political mileage by taking on the country’s biggest and most-respected sports person. The whole country hit back Bal Thackeray in unison in support of Sachin. Contrary to what they presumed, their popularity hit the bottom line. Once bitten, twice shy. Then, they took on country’s richest person Mukesh Ambani. This time, they were very hopeful, but their hopes came crashing down on the mountainsides yet again. The two icons are targeted for being an Indian first. Their being an Indian first by living in Mumbai irks the Senas and their statement, “Mumbai belongs to every Indian,” does not digest well to the Sainiks. Then, the father-son duo took on to our future prime minister Rahul Gandhi. The battle of words ensued; Rahul came to Mumbai and dared the father and son. Shiv Sena could not digest well the very fact that Rahul Gandhi derailed them in its own soil.

Now, Shiv Sena is threatening the release of SRK’s most-awaited film My Name Is Khan until the latter retracts his statement supporting Pakistan players in the coming IPL-3. SRK sticks on his stand why he should apologize and what he will retract when he did not give any anti-national statement and hurt anyone. The whole country is eager to see who will back off first. Bal Thackeray is very hopeful that SRK will apologize since 35% of all India business for his movie will come from the Mumbai territory. The unexpected opposition and staying away of long-time partners the RSS and the BJP following this drama has left Shiv Sena more isolated. The Sena does not want this big opportunity give them a miss because the success to stop the screening of the year’s most-awaited film of the country’s biggest star will do half of their job. This will help them revive their political prospects. On the other side, why will Shah Rukh apologize when he is the youth icon and every Indian adores him as a role model? That too, when he did not do anything wrong. It is not new that celebrities have been the soft target of politics in our country to get political mileage. It is also equally true that film stars are wooed by political parties to help win election. Although film stars enjoy deity position, they go for lone battle when they are targeted. The film industry can’t face the threat of political parties due to the lack of leadership.

As a citizen of India, I have few questions in my mind: Is Mumbai not a part of India? Who is the real leader of Mumbai, ruling government or Shiv Sena? Of all the businesses run in Mumbai, how many percentage of them are run by Maharastrians? How many Mumbaikars support the Senas? Why does MNS remain keep quiet in this whole drama, even though both Shiv Sena and MNS champion Marathi manoos? Is there a taboo for the celebrity to exercise the freedom of speech, a right given by our constitution to every Indian? Will the marriage of politics and sports help improve the country’s impoverished state of sports?

As every liberal Indian to whom caste and religion do not matter much, I stand by the statement of SRK. When he said that Pakistani players should have got a slot in IPL-3 because they are the best, I find nothing unacceptable and derogatory in this statement. There is no denying that Pakistanis are the best T20 players because they are the defending champion. They should have been treated well. Now, we can ask: Why did not SRK bid for Pakistani players during the auction? Why was there a consensus among IPL teams not to pick up even a single Pakistani player? Were IPL team owners asked or threatened not to allow any neighbor’s players? I smell a rat in the last question. Shiv Sena showed displeasure to allow Pakistani players in Mumbai following the last year terrorist attack in Mumbai. It is the responsibility of the team owners to provide security of the game. Since most of the games will be played in Mumbai, it is quite natural that any franchise will not be ready to take chances when there is a question mark on the security of the game because millions of dollars are riding on the game. Are we never going to talk to our neighbor? Is sports meant to intensify friendship, cooperation, and love or to divide and yield hatred.

Now, we every Indian should stand by SRK and should not allow the sectarian groups to take the law of the land at their hands. Don’t assume but know the fact why MNS does not break silence and come out in open to support Shiv Sena when both of them believe and pursue for the same cause. It is time to wake up and say “NOT ANY MORE” to these sectarians who have been befooling innocent people to meet their selfish ends by promoting mayhem and violence. The time when criminal factors play a major role to win election is coming to an end. Bogus voting and booth capturing are also fast disappearing. Take anti-north/west/east/south Indian rhetoric as undemocratic and anti-Indian. The real loser of all these political maneuverings and chauvinistic agenda are common man. Today, people are more educated than before, and they want competent leaders---san crime records and black marks---to rule the country. The leader who can protect the minority but champions for the cause of India.