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Attack Raj Thackrey’s MSN along with Shiv Sena activists attacked north-Indians in Mumbai on Sunday, October 19 and beat them up mercilessly. MSN and Shiv Sena activists attacked 13 railway board examination centres in the suburban Mumbai and disrupted the examinations. The severe thrashing of the outstation railway board examinees  by the MSN activists is a part of its policy to target the north-Indians. Since MNS’ formation Raj Thackrey has attacked the north-Indians. A few months ago, similar kind of incidents had happened when MNS activists had attacked the north-Indian students. It had not ended here. They had not spared even Bollywood super star Amitach Bachchan. For last some time there is a strong resentment against MNS’ hooliganism and ‘goondaism’ but people have not dared to speak against Raj Thackeray.

Criticism Though MNS workers have been found indulged in violent activities many times, but state government have not taken any concrete action against them. Congress led Maharashtra government’s pessimism is equally responsible for it. State Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has failed completely to prevent the attacks on the north-Indians. MNS’s recent action has led all the political parties in the Lok Sabha to demand for the arrest of the MNS Chief Raj Thackeray on the charges of ‘treason’. When House met on Monday, RJD Members of Parliament demanded Thackeray’s arrest. BSP and SP members also demanded strict action against the MNS and Shiv Sena activists who are targeting north-Indians. Some parties have condemned both the state and the central government for their failure to handle the situation.

Action Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackerat, too, have condemned the attacks on north-Indians. Some leaders have described MNS chief as ‘goondah’ and has demanded strict action against him under various sections of IPC. Raj Tackeray has been strongly condemned by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav who has described him as a ‘mental case’. He also held MNS responsible for attack on the railway board examinees and has demanded ban on it. MNS activists had thrashed and chased away the north-Indian candidates with the view that locals have not been given adequate representation. After the strong criticism, state government has swung into action. State chief minister has warned about strict action against MNS chief and said that it will not ‘tolerate’ ‘gundagiri’ of Raj. Only time will tell, what happens next, but we can say that he may face tough action in future. A Jamshedpur court has issued non-bailable warrant against Raj Thackeray for making derogatory remarks against Biharies.

Cross LoC Trade Tuesday, October 21 will become a historic day when Indian and Pakistan will open up a traditional trade link between the divided Kashmir after decades and trucks carrying goods  will cross the LoC first time. This decision has been taken as another confidence building measure which will reduce tension between both the countries. Kashmir is a bone of contention between both the nations and they have fought three wars because of it. Both the nations had launched a bus service between divided Kashmir in 2005, though there are bureaucratic problem that are a major hurdle in its complete success but it is running successfully.

Future A dry run of the truck service was held on Poonch-Rawalkote route on October20 successfully. Indian side has decided to send its first time goods free of cost as a goodwill gesture. It is being said opposite side, too, will reciprocate with the same gesture. Lorries will be allowed to drive a few kilometers inside each other’s territory and then unload. Both the sides have agreed on trade of limited list of goods but it is being expected that more goods can be added in the trade list with the passage of time. Presently, the trade is J&K centric but in future more trade routes can be opened across the international border.

Demand Kashmiris had been demanding for opening up of the cross LoC trade for a very long time and the urge for the cross LoC had reached its peak because of forced economic blockade. Kashmir, mostly depends on Jammu region for trade as it unites with India only through one route that passes through Jammu. But this route, too gets blocked during the winter season. In such circumstances, it is only during the summer season that essential commodities can be sent to the reason. Amarnath land row had widened the rift between both the regions when people of Jammu had forced economic blockade of the Kashmir region during the months of July and August. After it Kashmiris had demanded the opening up of the cross-LoC route. A Hurriyat leader had been killed in police firing in the march towards LoC. It had triggered wide-spread agitations in the region.  

Announcement Suspense ended on Sunday when Election Commission of India announced the dates of the assembly elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The elections will we held in seven phases for the 87 assembly seats in the state. The first phase of the polls will be held on November 17 and it will be followed by next six phases on November 23, November 30, December 7, December 17 and December 24. The votes will be counted on December 28 and the results will be announced on the same day. Earlier EC had announced the dated of the five state assembly elections except elections in J&K.

Political Situation Amarnath land row had lead to the premature downfall of he congress led government in the state. After it,political situation in the state had become very tense and more than 50 people have lost their lives in both parts of the state. Because of the tense situation in the Kashmir region, most of the political parties were not enthusiastic about the elections but they had not said openly against or in favor of the elections. Earlier it was being said that elections in the present situation will lead to a poor turnout in the Kashmir region. But state political parties also feared that delay in election will give an upper hand to separatists. In such circumstance EC had to take some ‘ bold decision’ otherwise it will have to wait for next six month to hold the election only after the winter season.

Necessity Earlier, PDP was against the early elections in the state but NC had favored the elections. Congress had left the decision to the EC while BJP wanted immediate announcement of elections in the state. In the initial two phases, elections will be held in Leh and Kargil regions as these areas are snow bound. Earlier elections used to be held in four or five phases in the state but EC has decided to hold them in seven phases because of the political instability in the state. In recent months, separatist Hurriyat leaders have exploited the public anger against New Delhi and had projected it as freedom struggle. In such circumstances, further delay in the elections could have given more time to the separatist for ‘free play’. EC has taken an important and necessary decision and it will push the separatists on back foot.