“North-Indians and dogs not allowed”
Does that sound familiar? Alright now listen to this – “North Indians and dogs not allowed”. No that is not yet up on any of the stores or pubs in Mumbai but with the way things are moving in Mumbai right now, that day may not be too far off. “Freedom of speech”. When a Praveen Togadia speaks against muslims, when a Abdulla Bukhari speaks against non-muslims, it is termed as raising mutiny or “hurting” sentiments. But for Mr. Raj Thakerey, it is Right of Expression. News channels and research agencies have even gone on to prove that 54% mumbaikars support Raj Thakerey’s stand. North Indians are eating into the jobs of Marathis. When I heard that for the first time, I had a similar feeling when the Americans started crying foul when the software engineers from India had started eating into their jobs. It was a time when the Indians wanted to stand up to the fact that the number of visas to America should be increased. It was a totally different country.
What we are facing now is something which might see the marginalization of people all across the country where favoritism, regional discrimination might touch a new high. It might see India entering an era where every citizen of India would start feeling insecure as soon as he steps out of his own state. And who knows? May be in the time to come, this discrimination on the basis of state might reach a micro level reaching upto the districts and cities may be colonies.
As an Indian, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee renders a speech in hindi in a UN Convention, when Bangalore and Hyderabad are talked about, around the globe for being the pool of software engineers, when Sania Mirza and Sachin Tendulkar show on field miracles, I feel proud to be an Indian. We have never asked a Mumbaikar or a marathi coming to the North Indian states where is he coming from. He is praised as much as any other North Indian if he does a good job. India is as much our country and we all must have equal rights to practice a profession in any part of the country that we want. We all need to stand up for it. If we don’t, be prepared for something like this:
You drive into Cannaught Place inner circle and they ask for your area of residence. If you belong to anywhere in Chanakyapuri, you may park your car in the authorized parking or else you need to find another place.
If you are a non-delhiite:
· Deposit all metallic substances (knives, steplars, pins, metallic pens, nail cutter, etc.) at the toll plaza
· Mobile should be switched off during your stay in Delhi
· Get your identity card checked at the check post
· Don’t drive your vehicle beyond 20kmph
· Always allow a vehicle with Delhi number plate to overtake you
· Carry a copy of your family tree to prove your city of origin approved by the mayor of your city
· Use the compartment in the Metro train which is specifically meant for Non-Delhiites
· Non-Delhiites should not use the underpass
· Not using underpass will attract a challan for Non-Delhiite pedestrians
· Non-Delhiites would be allowed to occupy an apartment only above the 7th floor in a complex

The argument continues...