After Sachin Tendulkar and Mukesh Ambani,the RSS has now opposed the Shiv Senas and Raj Thackerays Mumbai-for-Marathis line. The criticism drew a sharp reaction from the Sena today,giving the impression of war within the Parivar. Speaking in Guwahati yesterday,RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat came out in support of north Indians facing attacks in Mumbai. Mumbai is for all Indians, Bhagwat said. Whole of India is for all Indians and all Indians can earn livelihood anywhere in India. Language,caste,sub-castes,groups,tribes can be different,but all are sons of India, the RSS chief said,adding that this is a misconception that employment has decreased at our place (Maharashtra) because of migrants. A solution to this grievance should be found,but the solution is not that you refuse people of your country to migrate to your area. Today,RSS leader Ram Madhav went a step further. The Sangh Parivar has asked its volunteers in Maharashtra to try and prevent the spread of anti-north Indian and anti-Hindi feelings, Madhav told reporters in Jabalpur. The RSS,Madhav said,was opposed to discrimination on the basis of language,and demanded steps to check disturbances on the issue. There should be no discrimination on the basis of language, he said in reply to a question. The Sangh is of the strong view that India is one from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. In Mumbai,former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi reacted sharply. The time has come to remind RSS that Mumbai belongs to Marathi people only and they should get priority here, Joshi said. Mumbais glory is due to hard work of Marathi people and they have full right over the city. Sena MLC Diwakar Raote said,Our firm stance is that Mumbai belongs to Maharashtrians and it will stay so. Asked by reporters for a reaction to the war of words,BJP chief Nitin Gadkari whose party is in alliance with the Sena in Maharashtra took a cautious line. I will first speak to the RSS chief on what he has said,understand what his views are,and then react, Gadkari said in Bangalore. Asked if the RSS and Sena were taking each other on,he said,There is no clash between them. In Mumbai,Maharashtra BJP spokesman Madhav Bhandari said,The stance of both the parties (Shiv Sena and BJP) has been the same for years. BJP leaders argued that the Senas aggression on the Marathi manoos issue or on Pakistani players in the IPL was basically a response to Raj Thackerays MNS,with an eye on the Mumbai civic polls due in 2012. Sources in the Sena said the matter was unlikely to escalate. The Sena understands the position of the RSS chief,who,being what he is,had to state what he did, said a top Sena leader. The Sangh has to take a nationalistic line and we respect Bhagwatjis views. At the same time,the Sena has to protect its base. Another Sena leader said party chief Bal Thackeray would likely make a statement in mouthpiece Saamna. They (the RSS) basically want to counter the MNS,their target is not the Shiv Sena, he said.
