"A house divided against itself cannnot stand". This quote i once read somewhere is best suited to describe the present state of affairs of our India considering the circumstances. This time the shiv sena has targetted Sharukh Khan for making a sentence expressing his opinion in pakistan saying pakistan should be allowed to participate in the IPL and threatened to stop the release of his forthcoming film, "My name is Khan", if he doesnt apologize for his statement. This clash of ideologies which is evidently a non issue has been turned into an issue of treachery by the shivsena. The infamous party with its puritanical views has been known to disrupt the peace of the state of Maharashtra over similar negligible subjects on many occasions in the past. As a result of this, potential issues of eminence that need immediate action to be taken, like the delhi rape case where a girl was raped in broad daylight in a building opposite some of Indias major news paper buildings, are being sidetracked.

S0 is this tacit divide on the basis of religion, SRK being a muslim, intentional or is the shiv sena earnestly affronted by the statement itself irrespective of who made it? SRK however has stuck to his steadfast resolve and refused to oblige. After watching his interview with Barkha Dutt on NDTV where he dismissed the shiv senas allegations with aplomb and dignity as old fashioned and trivial and stated that he is a good india, my respect for him has multiplied if anything. According to the shiv sena after the 26/11 travesty pakisthan should not be allowed to play in the IPL indirectly implying all ties with the country should be severed. But the party overlooks the obvious fact that the pakisthani players werent the perpetrators involved in the attack nor does every denizen of pakisthan hold a personal grudge against india.
An allusion meant as an effort to bridge the ever widening gap between the countries has been turned into a squalid brawl over religion by the shivsena. So the question still remains whether SRK was targeted cause of his religion? Does being a muslim make him any less indian than the hindus? And is it relevant to fuss over the eons old divide when issues of real importance are staring us in the face? With parties like the shiv sena playing the villian with their outdated stereotypical outlooks and puerile mentality, aspirations of growth and development of our country is an unattainable dream. Every progressive step foward india takes will be negated if these continue to act upon anything and everything that contradicts their constricted vision.