Much has already been written about Raj Thackeray's self-serving jingoism; so I shall focus on one particular statement uttered during his most recent speech. Thackeray has decreed that, apart from Maharashtra Day, no other celebrations would henceforth be allowed in Maharashtra. A small aside here. Aren't we supposed to be living in a democratic society, where the government is of the people, for the people? What right, then, does any politician have to issue a decree or fatwa, like some old style dictator or absolute monarch?

Let us give Thackeray the benefit of the doubt and presume that his statement was made out of genuine conviction; and was not blatant pandering to a particular vote bank. In his speech, Thackeray singled out Uttar Pradesh Day and Chhath Puja, since North Indians seem to be his particular bugbear. By implication, however, he means to ban Christmas and Parsi New Year and Baisakhi and Guru Nanak's Birthday and on and on. These occasions are, after all, alien to the Marathi manoos and have no business, therefore, to be celebrated in a Marathi state.

Perhaps Thackeray would be more comfortable if all non-Marathis left his state and returned to where they, or their ancestors, came from. Who needs the Tata's and the Godrej's and the Ambani's and the Mafatlal's - not to mention Tarun Tahilani or Kareena Kapoor or Katrina Kaif (aliens, all)? And why are so many Marathi manoos riding on Hero Honda bikes and scooters? Isn't the company owned by Brijmohan Lall, one of the hated North Indians? Ironically, Thackeray's rival, his cousin Udhav, has already taken the first step by inaugurating an exclusively Marathi vada-pav enterprise for the sons of the soil. Let the 'foreigners' leave. Maharashtra is for the Marathi's.

It may have escaped Thackeray's notice that, if Mumbai is today regarded as India's commercial capital, it is largely due to the enterprise of these 'outsiders'. Take them out of the equation and see what happens.