Mayhem and Sadness

The attack by Shiv Sainiks at the Nallasopara function is shocking, horrifying and brutal. I read about the incident in the papers, saw the video on TV, and it was disturbing. And the function was not even held to celebrate V Day, which people assembled tried to explain.

A crowd of hooligans broke down the door and barged into the hall. Some of the men, groped at women, pulled them by their hair, pulled their clothes, slapped and kicked them. The men who tried to protect the women ended up being whipped themselves and were beaten with iron rods. A distraught girl clung to other members in her group, and one man went up to her and slapped her hard. She cried in pain, and he would have kept hitting her had someone not intervened. The DJ who had taken a loan of Rs 4 lakh for his equipment, now just has the broken pieces to behold.

Among the attackers were four councillors of the Nallasopara municipal council. How could the TV crew just film it so nonchalantly? Only a handful of the goons have been arrested.

And these vandals have the gall to say ‘Jai Bhavani’ at the end of it, chanting slogans, and laughing after molesting women, hitting men, pilfering the jewelry and watches and even pocketing the samosas and cold drinks at the party. Why this dislike for V day celebrations? What can be achieved by the utter denigration of some citizens who just assembled to have a good time. Are there no other pressing issues—poverty, education, unemployment? Why leave this trail of destruction? At least stick to the ideology of Shivaji Maharaj if nothing else.

Shivrayanchya nakhachi pun sar nahi ahe tumhala. Kharach, parat ashya jantya raja chi garaj ahe...