🖋️ From The Desk of Abhijeet Rane
- dhadakkamgarunion0
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
🖋️ From The Desk of Abhijeet Rane
The communal clashes of 1987–88 in Sambhajinagar reshaped the city’s political landscape. What began as sudden violence soon became a turning point: Balasaheb Thackeray’s aggressive stance gave Shiv Sena a new identity as the voice of Hindu discontent. Ordinary workers—tailors, sweepers, small vendors—were fielded as candidates, and 27 Sena corporators emerged victorious, breaking Congress’s long-standing dominance. The city’s rapid industrial growth and migration had unsettled social balances, yet Congress relied on old equations. Sena capitalized on issues like unemployment, slaughterhouses, and law-and-order concerns, drawing massive crowds to Thackeray’s rallies. Though Congress managed the mayoral post through alliances, subsequent riots saw Sena’s cadres resist fiercely, altering perceptions of power. Today, the irony is stark: one of the key accused from those riots has formally joined Shiv Sena (UBT), reminding us how history often circles back in unexpected ways.
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🖋️ From The Desk of Abhijeet Rane,
The recent “mega incoming” in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad has given the BJP a significant boost, with leaders from both the NCP factions and the Thackeray camp joining the party. The entry of Surendra Pathare, son of NCP MLA Bapusaheb Pathare, along with former corporators Sachin Dodke, Bala Dhankawade, Vikas Dangat, and others, has raised eyebrows. In Ajit Pawar’s stronghold, the defection of 15 prominent figures—including former committee chairmen and ex-mayors—marks a serious setback for the opposition. Yet, beneath the celebrations lies unease. Loyal BJP aspirants, who have invested years in the party, now warn of rebellion if “outsiders” are favored for tickets. Their frustration highlights the delicate balance between expansion and loyalty. While the influx strengthens BJP’s numbers, managing internal dissent will determine whether this strategy translates into lasting power.
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🖋️ From The Desk of Abhijeet Rane
The silence of India’s celebrities, intellectuals, and political leaders on the brutal killings of Hindus in Bangladesh is deafening. When global issues like Gaza or Rafah dominate their voices, the plight of minorities in our own neighborhood is ignored. A single statement of condemnation from them could amplify awareness across India and the world, yet none speak. This selective outrage exposes the hypocrisy of those who claim to stand for human rights. Bangladesh’s Hindus continue to face barbaric violence, humiliation, and fear, while progressive voices remain absent. True secularism demands consistency—raising a voice against injustice regardless of religion or geography. If leaders and artists can mobilize for distant causes, they must also confront atrocities next door. Silence here is complicity, and complicity is betrayal of humanity.
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🖋️ From The Desk of Abhijeet Rane
The recent incidents in Bangladesh, where blasphemy accusations have led to mob lynching and public immolation, reveal a disturbing continuity of intolerance. Since 1947, minorities—especially Hindus—have lived as second-class citizens, facing violence, displacement, and systemic discrimination. Taslima Nasreen’s Lajja captured the horrors of 1992, yet three decades later, the reality remains unchanged. What shocks India is not the brutality itself, but the silence of thousands who witness such acts without protest. This silence normalizes barbarity. The illusion that societies rooted in religious majoritarianism will evolve into plural democracies has repeatedly failed. For India, the lesson is clear: illusions about neighbors only deepen vulnerabilities. Recognizing the persistence of intolerance is the first step toward safeguarding regional stability. Until illusions are shed, outrage will remain episodic, and solutions elusive.
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🖋️ From The Desk of Abhijeet Rane
Shalini Tai Patil’s departure leaves behind a silence that Maharashtra’s political streets will find hard to fill. She was not merely a minister or a legislator; she was a symbol of defiance against conformity. Her life reflected the courage to walk into storms—whether in personal choices or public battles—and emerge with dignity intact. She carried the burdens of criticism yet transformed them into strength, showing that leadership is not about titles but about conviction. Even in retirement, her presence lingered as a reminder that politics can be principled, and that women can stand unyielding in spaces often dominated by men. Today, as we mourn her, we also celebrate the audacity she embodied. Maharashtra has lost a fighter, but her spirit remains etched in its conscience.
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