The local flavour has returned on the front pages of the vernacular dailies with regional parties Shiv Sena and MNS engaged in tussle over - Mee Marathi - (I am Marathi).
The local flavour has returned on the front pages of the vernacular dailies with regional parties Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) engaged in tussle over - Mee Marathi - (I am Marathi). Whether it was Sakal, Maharashtra Times, Loksatta, Lokmat Times or Saamana - overall the central theme was identical in terms of coverage from arrest of former minister Dharmaram Atram for killing a chinkara or sacking of encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma. The national news was relegated to the inside pages except for the devastating floods in Bihar which has created a havoc leaving many dead and rendering lakhs of people homeless across the state.
The former Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi came on the front foot batting for Shiv Sena to negate the aggressive campaign launched by rival MNS over Marathi nameplate in commercial establishments. He exposed the MNS campaign by arguing that making Marathi name plates compulsory in railway stations and shops and commercial establishments was the brainchild of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. He also said the affection for Marathi issue in MNS was already a tried-and-tested experiment conducted by Sena almost about four decades ago. The verbal war between the Sena and the MNS over Marathi asmita kept the regional papers vibrant with endless debates and editorials occupying the prime space. However, what remains to be ascertained is whether the Sena-MNS war can strike a chord with the Marathi manoos. While most of the newspapers see nothing wrong in shopkeepers reverting to Marathi name plates, nobody supported the MNS activists’ violence.
The chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh stole the headlines for taking the lead in extending the invitation to Ratan Tata to consider setting up Nano car project in Maharashtra. The Trinamool Congress’ agitation in Singur against the Nano project in the backdrop of Maharashtra roping the industrial home saw the issue getting into prominence in the regional papers. Maharashtra Times featured a column applauding the chief minister for his efforts to keep the leading industrial status of the state. Yet, it also raises pertinent questions on why the leadership has failed to set right projects such as Dhabol (partially functioning) or new ventures in coastal Konkan from becoming a reality. Whether it is Loksatta or Sakal, the Nano project was the talking point, as many criticised the West Bengal politicians for engaging in narrow party politics at the cost of the state’s development.
Also, the papers clearly indicated it’s time to celebrate! The 10 days of Ganesh festival brings with it a variety of bonanza. The magnificent statue of Labaugcha Raja — Mumbai’s special attraction every Ganesh festival — has already made it to headlines and special features in Marathi dailies. The commercialisation of the festival by politicians across Maharashtra cannot be missed in the newsprint. But the positive aspect is that it has brought to the debating table critical issues such as terrorism, environment and poster wars to the fore.
k_shubhangi@dnaindia.net
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