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Mumbai: For the huge educated migrant population that has made Mumbai its home for decades, a website is being launched on Maharashtra Day tomorrow to give them a medium to express their sense of belonging to Mumbai and the state.
In the wake of inflammatory statements by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray against North Indian migrants and the political violence that followed in February, there is a growing sense of unease when examining the issue of "sons-of-the-soil" versus the migrants.
Immense contribution
"Migrants constitute two-thirds of Mumbai's population and have contributed immensely to this city and Maharashtra," says Sanjay Nirupam, Congress Party spokesman, who will be launching the website, www.wethemigrants.com, to address this problem and also find ways to bring harmony in this energetic city. "Migrants are not just from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but from across the country and that includes famous personalities like Dev Anand and Dhirubhai Ambani," he told Gulf News.
The e-paper will focus on issues concerning migrant population all over India, particularly Mumbai, and will be a platform to interact with opinion makers as well as educate migrants on the local culture, says Nirupam who is also planning to hold a symposium on "Role of Migrants in the development of Mumbai".
Eminent speakers include former city police commissioner M.N. Singh, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, editor Nikhil Wagle of Mahanagar, a Marathi daily, and Sailesh Gandhi, a well-known Right to Information activist.
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