News items: Shiv Sena activists target Shahrukh Khan for advocating the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL. They visit a multiplex and burn posters of his latest film. Bal Thackeray lambasts Mukesh Ambani for stating, in a forum, that Mumbai belongs to all Indians.
 
The Shiv Sena seems to be stuck in a time warp from which it cannot, or does not want to emerge. They are living in a fool's paradise, convinced that the street smart tactics that worked in the 1960s and '70s are still relevant. They can't seem to grasp that the Indian electorate of the 21st Century is far smarter and less gullible than the previous generation. Tamashas like tearing up posters and bombastic, jigoistic statements serve no purpose than to provide the Sena "warriors" with a brief photo op.
 
Mumbaikars have long seen through the hollowness of the Shiv Sena's "patriotism". As Shakespeare neatly put it, it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury and signifying nothing. It is easy to shout empty slogans against those, like SRK and Mukesh Ambani, who are too mature to respond to such childishness. It is anything but brave to show "righteous anger" against Pakistan and Australia - while they are secure in their Mumbai stronghold. But how many of these mighty warriors will join the army or take up arms against the militants in Kashmir? Even the Sena supremo himself has never dared to step out of Maharashtra in all the 50 years he has been in power.
 
We have become accustomed to the hypocricy and ineptitude of our politicians, but the Shiv Sena have taken it to a new level.