Whatever the path ahead, we must certainly see that this does not devolve into violence and pitched battles on our streets. We cannot have goons threatening shop owners that they will smash windows and shop fronts
A shop owner changes the signboard of his shop. File pic
The president of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), a trader’s body in Mumbai, had spoken out about the alleged threats and intimidation he was facing. He stated in a column in this newspaper that he has been singled out in a hate campaign, after he spoke out against a recent state government decision telling shop owners that the Marathi language name sign on their shops should be as big if not bigger than that of other languages. It should be prominent and visible, it stated.
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The signboard issue has reared its head once again and with this government decision, we are sure to see tremendous controversy and some very contentious times in the near future.
Shop owners are already putting up Marathi language signboards on their store fronts, but now it should be prominent and visible. Those who are against this must support the few individuals who dare to speak out as it is unfair to place a gun on somebody else’s shoulder and then fire.
Whatever the path ahead, we must certainly see that this does not devolve into violence and pitched battles on our streets. We cannot have goons threatening shop owners that they will smash windows and shop fronts.
We have a very difficult time right now, with the Coronavirus. The economy is struggling and retailers have been especially hard pressed with lockdowns and restrictions. They do not need another setback and more expense.
Moreover, we do not need threats, intimidation and violence as we have plenty to grapple with. One can only now press for a mutually acceptable solution as words like prominent and visible also leave a lot of grey area that then can be exploited by anti-social elements for bribes and browbeating people into acquiescing. Let us see civility, rule of law and dignified dialogue prevail.
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