Stop the political games: Activists

Gerson Da Cunha, Trustee, AGNI

The dishonouring of Meenatai Thackeray’s statue has happened at a happy time for the Shiv Sena because it has helped them mark their presence in Mumbai, Nanded, Aurangabad, and other towns without falling foul of the law. Since this happened on a Sunday, when everyone is at home, it’s been a good day for the party to show that it is still a power to be reckoned with.

Teesta Setalvad, Social activist

The violence that broke out is premeditated and appears to be a part of a gameplan by the Sena. They took law and order into their hands. This is punishable under law, but the law has never been enforced and the culprits have never been prosecuted. I feel disturbed by how TV channels have responded to the incident. The government should do something about this.

Indrani Malkani, Civic activist & founder-trustee of Malabar Hill Residents’ Association:

Mindless action led to mindless reaction. This was not a protest organised by a political party, this was a reaction. Most of the time, we look at violence, not at what triggered it. People’s emotions do need to be looked into. The act done to the statue was unprovoked. Many of us, who are not political-minded, were outraged. What happened next was an emotional reaction. I would not condone violence, but the fact is that the situation was triggered off by the group or person who committed the unprovoked act.

It is a sad that the city is suffering due to this.

Shailesh Gandhi, Right to Information activist

Political parties should realise that violence is overwhelming now. A crowd of 2,000 people protesting peacefully would not get the same response as a crowd of 200 people indulging in violence. The Shiv Sena has a lot of clout. If they had put pressure on the police, the culprits would have been caught. But they chose violence. It’s time all right-thinking citizens say that this is not acceptable.