| Bal Thackeray |
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| 1927 births | |
| thackeray, balasaheb | |
| living people | |
| indian politicians | |
| indian cartoonists | |
| shiv sena | |
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BACKGROUND Thackeray is a right-wing (which he help found) and other Hindu-centric political parties brand him as ''Hindu Hridaysamrat'' ("Emperor of the Hindu heart"). Thackeray started his career as a Cartoonist in the '' Free Press Journal '' of Mumbai in the 1950s , and was a contemporary of R K Laxman during his early years. His cartoons were also published in the Sunday edition of '' The New York Times ''. In 1960 , he launched a cartoon weekly '' Marmik '' with his brother. He used it to campaign against the growing influence of non- Marathi people in Mumbai. He has also fought trade union control battles with the Communist s and Indian National Congress . He formed the Shiv Sena in 1966 with the intent of fighting for the rights of the natives of the state of Maharashtra (called Maharashtrians). There was a great exodus of people from all over India into Mumbai, the commercial capital and economic center of the nation, for employment. The Shiv Sena became an advocate of the 'Bhúmiputra' (or "Sons of the Soil") policy, in response to a perceived threat amongst the native Maharashtrians that such an exodus would deny them of employment opportunities which were rightfully theirs. Politically, it has allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Bal Thackeray is said to have strong links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), which acts as the fountainhead of all pro-Hindu-right wing thought and political action in India. CONTROVERSY Thackeray is notorious for his intolerant stance towards people who have migrated to Mumbai from other parts of India, non- Hindu s and Pakistan is. In the late 1970s , as part of his " Maharashtra is for Maharashtrian s" campaign, the firebrand politician dared South India ns to leave Mumbai, or face dire consequences. Thackeray's latest skirmishes with the law stem from the inflammatory editorials he continues to publish in his party mouthpiece, Sāmna (Confrontation). TARGETING MUSLIMS Bal Thackeray fired his first salvo against Indian Muslims through his party mouthpiece, Sāmna around the time the 16th century Babri Masjid was demolished by right-wing cadres of the BJP in the northern town of Ayodhya , on 6th December, 1992 . The Justice Srikrishna Commission of Enquiry, which investigated the ensuing communal riots in Mumbai, indicted Thackeray of sparking anti-Muslim violence, which led to more than 1,000 deaths in several massacres. The Srikrishna Commission found that Thackeray was personally responsible, not only for inciting the mobs through his incendiary speeches, but also directly coordinating the movement of the rioters. Thackeray's Shiv Sena is also perceived to be responsible for orchestrating violence against Christian s and other religious and linguistic minorities (non-Maharashtrians). After the Pakistan-backed militant actions began in Jammu & Kashmir, Thackeray has constantly maintained that the Indian Muslims should consider themselves as "Indians first and Muslims later". The regular destruction of shops and restaurants that allow young people to celebrate St. Valentine's Day , interpreted as indecent and un-Indian by Thackeray, is one of his most famous actions. Thackeray's supporters are known for their ability to enforce general strikes around Mumbai . Shiv Sena has, in the past, shut down the Pakistan i Consulate in the city, and has made it impossible for Pakistani sports teams to play in the city. RECENT NEWS More recently, the Shiv Sena has pushed for a ban on "public obscenity" by young couples in the metropolitan area. A general decline in Shiv Sena support in recent years has resulted in increased intra-party rivalry between Bal Thackeray's son Udhav Thackeray , and nephew Raj Thackeray in which senior Sena leaders, such as former Chief Minister Manohar Joshi have sided with Udhav, while hard-line leaders such as Narayan Rane and Sanjay Nirupam have sided with Raj. Both these leaders were later expelled from Sena and joined Indian National Congress. On December 18, 2005, Raj Thackeray announced his resignation as a primary member of the Shiv Sena.On March 19,2006, Raj announced the formation of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. On February 14, 2006, Bal Thackeray astonishingly condemned and apologized for the violent attacks of Shiv Sena members upon a private Valentine's Day celebration in Mumbai. "It is said that women were beaten up in the Nallasopara incident. If that really happened, then it is a symbol of cowardice," Thackeray said, "I have always instructed Shiv Sainiks that in any situation women should not be humiliated and harassed." Thackeray and the Shiv Sena remain opposed to Valentine's Day celebrations, although they may support an "Indian alternative."[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1413273.cms EXTERNAL LINKS
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