Karachi will be in India, says Fadnavis; minister wants India, Pak merged

Pakistan’s port city Karachi has made more than a reference-snatching intrusion into controversy-inclined Maharashtra’s political class.

First it was an outrageous attempt by a Shiv Sena leader to force-change a shop’s name in Mumbai; it earned him wild brownie points. And now it’s former BJP CM Devendra Fadnavis’ turn to weigh in with Nitin Nandgaokar, the Sena leader. “Karachi will one day be a part of India,” said Fadnavis.

Not to be left behind, the ruling Mahavikas Aghadi government’s junior ally, the NCP, has come out with yet another sweeping remark. “The party would welcome BJP’s move if it creates one country by merging India, Pakistan and Bangladesh,” said Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik.

The Shiv Sena had sought to distance itself from party leader Nandgaokar who was seen in a video widely shared on social media at the Mumbai shop telling the owner to change the name of Karachi Sweets “to something in Marathi”. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Nandgaokar’s comment is not the party’s official stance.

Also read:Sena leader sets deadline for sweets shop to remove ‘Karachi’ from name

On Saturday, Fadnavis, when asked about the controversy by a reporter, said: “We are the people who believe in an ‘Akhand Bharat’… Karachi will one day be a part of India.”

Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik told a news agency on Sunday: “Devendra ji has said that time will come when Karachi will be a part of India. We have been saying that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh should be merged. If the Berlin wall can be demolished, then why can’t India, Pakistan and Bangladesh come together? If BJP wishes to merge these three countries and make a single country, we will welcome it definitely.”

In a nearly one-minute clip, Nandgaokar is heard telling the owner of Karachi Sweets, a sex-decade-old shop, in Bandra: “I hate the name Karachi. The city in Pakistan is a hub of terrorists. You can name your ancestors in the banner… I pay my respects to them. You came from Pakistan, but this is your home. You’ll have to do it (change the name). We will help you with the business. I will give you time… change the name to something in Marathi.”

“Karachi bakery and Karachi sweets have been in Mumbai for the last 60 years. They have nothing to do with Pakistan. It makes no sense to ask for changing their names now. Demand for changing their name is not Shiv Sena’s official stance,” Raut tweeted amid sharp reactions on social media.