Discussed: Who does Mumbai belong to?

Excerpts from India Tonight on CNBC-TV18 Watch the full show » Nifty BSE | NSE 29/05/12 Are Mutual Funds betting on Nifty?

Once again India's proud financial capital and most cosmopolitan city is at the centre of a sad controversy. This time the question is to who does Mumbai belong to? The Shiv Sena and MNS say the Marathi people, but hundreds and millions of others believe that the city is as much Indian as any other place in this country. So today we ask whose Mumbai is it and how reckless is it to ask that question.

In an exclusive CNBC-TV18 debate, Priya Dutt, Congress MP from North Mumbai, Bharat Kumar Raut, Shiv Sena, Rajya Sabha MP, theatre actress and Director Sanjana Kapoor, and the well known advertising guru Alyque Padamsee gave their perspective on the issue.

Here is a verbatim transcript of the interview. Also watch the accompanying video.

Q: Let me start with a simple question, who does Mumbai belong to?

Kapoor: I think that question itself is sad that one has to ask it or answer it. That is something that need not be a part of our consciousness. I think we are sadly being pushed into this situation where we have chauvinistic people who say it belongs to them and claiming that it is their space and then suddenly making people like me confused and say excuse me I belong there as well or I did until I chose not to. And I have clearly chosen not to belong there. I still work in Mumbai but I can't say I belong there anymore.

Q: Does this question the way it is being asked upset you?

Kapoor: Terribly.

Q: The Former Lok Sabha Speaker and Shiv Sena leader Manhohar Joshi says Mumbai belongs to Marathi people only and they should get priority. As a Mumbaikar who is not a Maharashtrian do you agree or disagree?

Padamsee: This question has been bandied about backwards and forwards like a tennis ball played by Roger Federer. But I think the question actually that I am confused about should be asked to the highest authority in the land, the President of India.

The President should now come out clearly as to whether a Mumbai, Bombay or Bambai, whatever you want to call it belongs to whom. We would like to know from the President the answer to this vexatious question.

How is that Delhi has been totally silent on this matter. It is amazing to me. It has become quite a controversy and yet neither the President, nor the PM nor the head of the party that actually runs the country, the Congress part, nor the Chief Minister of Maharashtra who sits in Mumbai, why don't they answer the question.