Ayesha Takia lashes out at Raj Thackeray

I couldn't possibly have chosen better words. We need to beware of people like the MNS chief. Hitler more or less rose in a similar way. It ended with Berlin being razed to the ground! The greatest enemy is the enemy within!

Printed from ToI. 10/11/09

Ayesha Takia's father-in-law, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Abu Asim Azmi was physically abused by a MLA of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) during his swearing in ceremony on Monday in Mumbai. The ruckus happened when MLA Abu Asim Azmi started taking his oath in Hindi, in spite of MNS' demand that all legislators should take the pledge in Marathi.  Deeply hurt and shocked by the aggressive behavior of MNS with Abu Azmi, daughter-in-law Ayesha Takia Azmi lashed out on MNS whole and soul Raj Thackeray and his party. "I am shocked and disgusted by the behaviour of Raj Thackeray and his people. The way they behaved with Abu Azmi during today's swearing in was really unbelievable and disgusting. How can we ever feel safe in a place where gundas are allowed to behave as they want?"  Reacting on the restriction on language she says, "I love this city and we all do so how does it matter if we say Bombay or Mumbai? My grandfather was Marathi and my granny is British, my father Gujrati and my husband Muslim. I have always been cosmopolitan and don't see why in this day and age it matters who belongs to what language."  Criticizing language war Ayesha said, "Hindi Marathi English and any of our languages are allowed while taking the oath. We live in love and respect each other irrespective of cast and language. So why are gundas like Raj Thackeray and others allowed to break and kill our peace?"  Being a responsible citizen she requests chief minister and other parties to take action again this. "Our other respected leaders including the chief minister and other parties must unite and kick out Raj Thackeray and MNS. Law must take action. If action isn't taken then this will be the beginning of breaking the peace!" She signs off.  All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke. When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. Then they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. Then they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, I did not speak out; I was not a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me! --Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German Intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.