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Forgive me, Saheb!

Ex-Sainik and current Congressman Narayan Rane writes a heartfelt obituary in memory of Bal Thackeray, the man who shaped him.

Narayan Rane left the Shiv Sena in 2005 to join the Congress. Since then, both Bal Thackeray and Rane wasted no opportunity to take potshots at each other on various public fora. However, as the news of Thackeray’s ill health spread last week, Rane publicly admitted that he wished to meet the man who had shaped his political career.

And with Thackeray’s demise on Saturday, November 17, Rane wrote an emotional tribute to Thackeray in his family-owned newspaper, Prahaar. It remains to be seen how Shiv Sainiks and even the Congress will react to the obituary, coming as it is from friend-turned-foe Narayan Rane. The piece is reproduced below:

I watched the news of respected Shri Balasaheb Thackeray’s demise on television, and my heart was struck by several emotions. The tears flowed from my eyes as I remembered the many times I had spent with him. (With this obituary) I have tried to express on paper the tumult of emotions I am experiencing at the moment.

Whether his party was in power or not did not have the slightest effect on him. He continued living and speaking the way he always had – in his trademark royal style and with the same zest for life. I don’t think there was ever another person like him. His working style ensured that he rose to prominence as a national-level leader. I felt pride when declaring that such a man was my guru. Saheb, I will always regret the fact that I could not meet you as your life was ebbing away.

Saheb was a fount of kindness. His intellect and nature ensured that he made friends and followers from every walk of life. A beacon of hope for the Marathi manoos and a staunch Hindutvavadi, he established the Shiv Sena in 1966 at a time when such a party was needed in the city. The Marathi manoos and several youngsters like me were instantly attracted to him. The love and kindness he showered on Shiv Sainiks while forming his party ensured that his party workers would pledge their lives for him as long as they lived. He took care of his people, asked after them in times of grief, and this made him the darling of his party workers and the state.

I got a lot of love from Saheb. He also trusted me implicitly. I have no qualms in admitting that he made me the person I am. Whatever political success I have earned in my life, a lion’s share of it is because of Saheb. ‘A man should be rich by his thought, and this richness should flow freely’ is the teaching I took from him. I have always said that my journey from shakha pramukh to Chief Minister to Leader of Opposition was possible only because of Saheb. If I was an effective Chief Minister in my eight-month tenure, it was only because of you, Saheb.

He was as courageous as he was insightful. He was and will be known among the cartoonist greats all over the world. Similarly, he proved his writing prowess as the editor of Marmik and Saamna. His wily political sense always pulled the Sena out of any crisis.

He never compromised on religion or nationalism. Despite his sharp speech and uncompromising nature, he had friends in all fields and he was a popular leader in all of India. I will run out of paper before I am fully able to describe the time I have spent with him and the love he showered on me for 45 years.

He was battling death for the last few days. I kept thinking that this time, too, he would cheat death and get better. But he passed away…I regret having taken the decision that caused him a lot of hurt, but in the circumstances then, I had no choice but to take that decision. Some people forced me to take that decision…but never mind that now.

Saheb, you loved me more than my own parents did. You called me on the phone twice after I had left the Shiv Sena. What a big heart you had!

I wanted to meet him when his health was suffering. I was very uneasy about not meeting him. But to my misfortune, he passed away before I could see him one last time. Saheb, forgive me!

Rest in peace, Saheb. I humbly pray to God to grant strength to Shri Uddhavji and Shri Rajji and the entire Thackeray family in this time of grief.

Narayan Rane is the Industries Minister in the current Congress-led government in Maharashtra, and served as the State’s Chief Minister for eight months when the Shiv Sena-BJP combine was in power.

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Bal Thackeray passes away

Shiv Sena chief passes away after cardiac arrest; his health had reportedly been stabilising after a scare four days ago.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray passed away in Mumbai today. He was 86 and had been ailing from a pancreatic ailment for a while. He is said to have suffered from cardiac arrest – his health had been stabilising after acute respiratory distress a few days ago.

As the news of his recent strengthening health started doing the rounds, the crowds milling his official residence – Matoshree – began to reduce slightly, though devoted Shiv Sainiks continued to wait for news. As the news of his demise was announced today, the waiting crowds broke into sobs and the area had to be cordoned off again.

Police presence has been stepped up in the area.

Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in the 1960s; the party has largely been known as a Right-wing force that has been very vocal about the cause of the Marathi manoos in Maharashtra, apart from speaking out against minority communities in the state and the country.

 

 

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BCCI has been unfair against ZEE

BCCI to pay ZEE Rs 140 crore in damages; launch of ICL had led to strong-arm tactics from the BCCI.

A dispute dating back to year 2006 between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) Limited has now resulted in a tribunal declaring that the BCCI will pay ZEE Rs 140 crore against damages on account of ‘loss of goodwill and profit’ and also in lieu of refund of security deposit with interest.

In 2006, ZEE had won the exclusive media rights to telecast all ODIs to be held between India and any other country in any neutral territory outside India for a period of five years. However, ZEE announced the launch of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) the next year, and all hell broke loose – the five-year Agreement between the two parties was terminated by the BCCI in May 2007, around the time of launch of the ICL, resulting in ZEE invoking arbitration for wrongful termination of the contract.

An Arbitral Tribunal consisting of Justice AS Anand (Retd.), Former Chief Justice of India; Justice YK Sabharwal (Retd.), Former Chief Justice of India and Justice BN Srikrishna (Retd.), Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, was set up to study the matter. Yesterday, the Tribunal ruled in favour of ZEE, holding the BCCI guilty of “exploiting its dominant position” in the game of cricket in India, and of indulging in “unfair conduct against ZEE.” The Tribunal also held that ZEE was “treated unfairly  in its commercial contracts, due to the launch of the Indian Cricket League and was illegally blacklisted.”

Accordingly, the Tribunal also passed an award of Rs 140 crore to be payable by the BCCI to ZEE by December 1, 2012. Failing the payment by this date, interest on the amount would be additionally charged at a rate of 11 per cent per annum.

Punit Goenka, Managing Director and CEO, ZEE said, “We welcome the award handed over to it (BCCI) by an eminent panel of jurists.  This award is towards recovery of the losses that we have incurred in the sports business in the past.  We continue to remain committed to our sports business in the long term.”

What the Tribunal observed

– The termination of the Agreement by BCCI after the series held in Abu Dhabi and the triseries held in Malaysia was clearly illegal and invalid.

– The breach of Agreement dated 12.04.2006 was committed by the BCCI and not by the Claimant (ZEE).

–  BCCI took the action of termination of claimants rights under Agreement dated 12.4.2006 on account of Claimant launching of ICL and not for reasons made out in its letter of termination.

– The BCCI seems to have been exploiting its dominating position in respect of game of cricket in India.

– The BCCI blacklisting of ZEE (and its group/affiliate companies) from participating in any bidding process of BCCI was clearly illegal.

– The Award amount of approximately Rs. 140 crores payable by BCCI to ZEE includes the Security Deposit of Rs. 30 crores with interest @11% p.a. from 31st May, 2007, loss of profit, loss of goodwill, etc.

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Thackeray stable, city going back to normal

Shiv Sena chief is said to be off life support; but security is beefed up as party supporters throng Matoshree.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The city was on edge all day on Thursday, as Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s health deteriorated the previous evening and he was put on life support. As thousands of Sena supporters, curious citizens and the media camped outside Matoshree, the Thackerays’ residence at Kala Nagar, Bandra (East) since news of his ill health spread on Wednesday, it began to look like the city would face a huge security issue as the crowds continued to swell.

However, the Mumbai police proved equal to the task, as did personnel from the SRPF – a strong security cordon outside Matoshree was set up quickly and efficiently since Wednesday night, with more levels of security added yesterday. As of now, all leaves for the police have been cancelled till further notice. The area outside Matoshree is still cordoned off with barricades.

‘He is better now’

Reports of Thackeray having difficulty breathing began to do the rounds on Wednesday evening, and his health began slipping, after which he was hooked on to a life support system. Several Bollywood and political personalities visited Matoshree on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, party MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “Balasaheb is better today and he has been taken off life support. He is responding to treatment and his condition is stable now.” Party executive president Uddhav Thackeray exhorted Shiv Sainiks to keep calm and not believe rumours, warning them that no untoward incident should happen in the city in the wake of the news.

Transport off roads

An estimated 90 per cent of autos and taxis in the city stayed off the roads all day yesterday. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena strongholds such as Dadar and Parel wore a deserted look, with shops remaining closed and people off the roads. However, the city limped back to normalcy by evening, especially after the sombre look at Dadar’s Sena Bhavan was lifted with the building’s Diwali lighting being switched on again after news of Thackeray’s improving health spread.

(Picture courtesy www.hindubusinessline.com)

 

 

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Bal Thackeray is critical

Amid swirling rumours, thousands of Shiv Sainiks and general public flock to Matoshree; all cops’ holidays cancelled till further notice.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray (86), who has been battling a pancreatic ailment for a long while now, has been in a critical condition since late evening yesterday. His condition is said to have worsened over the night.

Thackeray’s son and party executive president Uddhav appealed to the assembled party workers to keep calm and not spread or listen to rumours. “I am confident that he will pull out of this, his willpower remains as strong as ever,” Uddhav said in a 2.15 am personal appeal made from outside Matoshree. “I appeal to you with folded hands to keep calm. I have not yet lost hope and neither should you. I don’t want to hear any news of any of you misbehaving (in the light of his father’s condition),” he added. Balasaheb’s estranged nephew and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray also exhorted party workers to await news of further developments and to keep calm.

Rumours swirled all over the city and country as crowds waited to hear about the exact status of Thackeray’s health. Media personnel and police were seen in large numbers outside Matoshree; however Shiv Sainiks asked the waiting cameramen to switch off their cameras. At about midnight, the cordon around Matoshree was further increased by the cops.

Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee cancelled his two-day visit to Maharashtra.

 (Picture courtesy www.deccanchronicle.com)

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Nobody’s investing in Mumbai’s mangroves

Current economic state stalls ambitious mangrove centre at Bhandup – the city’s major businesses don’t want to invest in it.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Again and again, especially when rains lash the city and submerge large areas of land, news reports remind us of how the city’s fast-depleting mangrove cover could have partly helped save Mumbai. And then we forget about the rains and, more importantly, the mangroves. If mangroves are to be sustained and protected, citizens must learn more about them, and scholars of the subject need to come up with intensive research on the topic.

Suppose you had a place that let you wander around and look at mangroves up close, stare at animals and birds that live inside them, and sit for a lecture or two? The plans and design for such a place is ready and has the Maharashtra state government’s seal of approval. But don’t get too excited just yet – the project is stalled for a lack of funds. The Mangrove Wetland Centre was conceptualised in 2006, got all the requisite approvals and permissions till date, but given the current economic scenario in the country, nobody’s willing to fund the project.

Says Debi Goenka, conservationist and one of the trustees for CAT, “Permissions were the issue at first (for the project not moving forward), but it is not the issue any more. The problem now is money. In the present financial climate, nobody actually has the money for funding the Centre.”

He says that the estimated project cost of the Centre is Rs 140 crore, spread over five years. “The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC) chipped in for our field studies and the making of the master plan. But finding a single donor now for the entire project is next to impossible. We’ve approached several major businesses for funds, but nobody’s willing to invest. Besides, the project needs a 100 per cent fund commitment to start, so we can’t scout for a part of the funds and expect that the rest of the money will miraculously appear,” Debi explains.

The problem is, he adds, that hard-headed businessmen will not fund the project purely out of altruistic motives. “People are not sitting around to give money unless there are assured returns,” he says.

The project

Designed on the lines of the Mai Po Marshes Wetland Park in Hong Kong, the project was ideally suited to Mumbai because it is a living example of an island that survives on its mangrove cover. It is to come up at Bhandup, along the western coast of Thane creek. An MoU was signed with the Forests Department; the project is to come up on forest land and is to be non-commercial in nature. “We are not looking for any commercial rights on the project,” Goenka says.

Conceptualised and developed by a team of architects and experts from Singapore, the Centre will allow visitors a walk through forest areas and see various flora and fauna residing there. They can also learn about the importance of mangroves for the city’s ecology and what can be done to prevent their destruction. “The Centre will also provide employment to local communities while being a prime example of green governance,” Goenka added.

Hurdles galore

The project was initially entangled in a lot of bureaucratic red tape. “In 2007, we submitted the project proposal to the state government. The government was totally receptive to the idea, and very happy with the concept because of its tourism potential and because no such Centre exists anywhere in the country,” Debi says.

However, despite receiving verbal approval, the project got stuck in Nagpur for two years. “In 2009, we finally got the approval, and it then went to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for a final go-ahead,” he says, adding that now the Centre has all the permissions and approvals from all the government agencies.

(Picture courtesy www.solingcute.blogspot.com) 

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