MNS merges ‘Hindavi’ and Marathi self-pride in slogan overhaul

Mumbai: Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Thursday changed its slogan, which was indicative of the merging of the party’s sonsof-the-soil agenda for Marathi self-pride, with aggressive Hindutva issues in future. The new slogan was on display at the MNS central office in Pune, where Thackeray launched a fresh membership drive for the party. ‘Mee Hindavi Rakshak, Mee Maharashtra Sevak’ (I am a protector of Hindus, I work for Maharashtra) was written prominently in Marathi below the administrative seal used during Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s reign. The seal is also part of MNS flag’s imagery.

Though the word Hindu or Hindutva has not been used, the word ‘Hindavi’ has been borrowed from the phrase ‘Hindavi Swarajya’ which is how Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is believed to have described his campaign against the Mughals in a letter. When Thackeray launched his party in March 2006, the party slogan was ‘Mee Maharashtracha, Maharashtra Majha’ (I belong to Maharashtra, Maharashtra is mine), which focused solely on Marathi self-pride. In Pune, all MNS posters and banners also used saffron liberally, and described Raj Thackeray as ‘Hindu Jan Nayak’ (Hindu peoThackeray in Pune; (inset) New slogan launched. ple’s protector), a reference similar to ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’ used to describe Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray as a Hindutva icon. The MNS leader’s photographs on the posters showed him sporting a saffron stole. Earlier, Thackeray had dropped enough hints that strident Hindutva will be his future political plank, when he launched a party campaign to remove loudspeakers used in mosques during morning prayers (azan) in Maharashtra. The campaign was successful, with several mosques voluntarily taking down the loudspeakers, following norms set by the Supreme Court.

Thackeray then planned a visit to Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi temple in June, but cancelled the trip after a fall at his residence, which necessitated a hip bone surgery and kept him out of action for two months. While he was recuperating from the hip surgery, BJP’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Thackeray at his ‘Krishna Kunj’ residence at Shivaji Park. “Fadnavis urged Thackeray to go all out during Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls and contest all 227 seats. He also pointed out that the Shiv Sena, with its strength reduced to 15 MLAs, was at its most vulnerable at this juncture, and it was an opportune time for MNS to fill the political vacuum and rejuvenate the party,” said sources. On Tuesday, in his first public address to party workers, Thackeray firmly supported Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Spokesperson Nupur Sharma on the controversy over her Prophet Mohammed remarks.