Whoever advised Raj Thackeray to name his party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena? Because all his cadre can do is to warn multiplex owners that glass panes at their complexes come expensive. That is not how Maharashtra’s ‘navnirman’ (loosely translates to rebuilding and development) will take place.

It is elementary that anyone who is genuinely interested in ‘navnirman’ ought to have a research desk in his outfit. Thackeray clearly does not know which is why his party cannot look beyond the lowest common denominator of a movie that stars a Pakistani actor in a supporting role. Or in his avatar as a Shiv Sainik before, dig up the Wankhede stadium pitch ahead of an India-Pakistan match. 

If Thackeray had browsed through the ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations) data, it would have told him how it is business as usual across the border. And while he may gloat over having scared Pakistan actors out of Bollywood, Indian traders are happily exporting to Pakistan and making money. Why isn’t he, his party leaders or other nationalistic voices putting forth the same inane argument – Isn’t there any other country to export to? 

Pakistan sees a major demand for Indian cotton, sugar and dairy products. Sixteen per cent of all the cotton that Pakistan imports comes from across the LoC. India imports cement, fruits and dry fruits from Pakistan. In fact, 16 per cent of India’s imports of fruits and dry fruits come from Pakistan. Even though in the context of India’s overall trade, the Pakistan share is miniscule ($2.17 billion of exports and just about $500 million imports in 2015-16), the fact remains that even that has not been hit since Uri and the surgical strike. 

In fact, because of not many land routes, the informal trade (mostly via Dubai) is much more in terms of volume and revenue. An ICRIER report of July 2016 pegs India’s annual informal trade with Pakistan at $4.71 billion. Of this, India’s exports to Pakistan come to $3.99 billion and imports at $0.72 billion.

Which is why, should a ban be imposed on trade, it will adversely affect Indian industry as the country exports much more than it imports. So if all the patriotism of all those export firms is not being questioned, why is Karan Johar being made to go through the Agnipariksha.

Or will Thackeray’s men, before they target the glasspanes of multiplexes, then search for buildings in India that have used Pakistani cement? Or visit Mumbai Port to check which export house is sending cotton and sugar to Karachi. Fawad Khan was a low-hanging fruit and Karan Johar easy prey that helps the MNS gain some visibility in TRP-hungry broadcast media. A party that was good enough to win just one seat in the Maharashtra assembly. 

The same goes for the TV media. Many of them have taken a position that in Diwali season, Indians do not need a Pakistan actor to provide them happiness. That while Karan Johar is self-centered to think only about the moolah he will make and about the blood and sweat of his 300 member cast and crew, the producer-director has not spared a thought for the blood spilled on the border and for the families of the soldiers. 

How do the two even add up? Does casting a Pakistan actor in a film amount to treason? Is there a Government of India policy that bans this? How does Karan Johar or anyone for that matter, become less Indian, less nationalistic? Will the likes of Ashoke Pandit and Abhijeet be the new casting directors in town who will certify who can be cast and who cannot be? And who are these self-appointed brokers giving themselves the job of certifying who is a patriot and who is not? 

Why is it then that Ae Dil Hai Mushkil trailers are running on different TV channels? Isn’t it hypocritical for channels to take a line asking for it not to be screened while making money on the side?

The ADHM episode has shown India a mirror to what it is increasingly becoming. A bunch of bullies ganging up against one person, without bothering to look at the mirror ourselves. I think it is extremely insulting to any self-respecting Indian’s sense of gratitude, love and pride for his motherland to have to reiterate it for public consumption. Almost like a renewal of his patriotic credentials. 

My suspicion is that Fawad Khan is just an excuse for someone to settle some old scores with Dharma Productions. The intention also could well be to make the Hindi film industry fall in line. Given the manner in which most big guns of the industry have fallen silent, suggests this surgical strike – extremely nauseating – has been successful. 

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!