Maharashtra, especially Bombay, now Mumbai, was in the clutches of wheelers dealers for more than four decades. There were attacks on a regular basis on public property, people, toll-gates, and offices of the TV channels. Crores of public property was destroyed by arsonists and vandals. Many people were beaten up; shops were vandalized, and taxis were damaged. Authorities did nothing to stop the rampaging crowds led by some political demagogue. There has not been a single conviction of the people who indulged in widespread violence and aggression. In the name of identity politics people of other states were targeted. The law-enforcing agencies were either scared of the goonda elements and their outfits or they were a part of the nexus between the criminal elements and the political entities. If the results of the just concluded assembly election turn out to be as predicted by the pollsters, Maharashtra will be liberated. Most of the traders of identity politics may have to close their shops; some of the most corrupt faces in the Indian politics may have to go into hibernation, at least for now. It is a sigh relief that the most polluted political environment in the state of Maharashtra may be cleansed with a detergent manufactured in Gujarat!
SND Poojary, Miramar
