
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray share stage after almost 20 years, vow to save 'Marathi linguistic identity' at all costs
'We have now come together to stay together,' roared Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray as he shared the stage with his cousin Raj Thackeray after almost 20 years. The event, titled 'Awaj Marathicha' (Voice of the Marathi), has been jointly organised by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
The rally came after the ruling Mahayuti coalition recently decided to rollback a controversial policy mandating Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra's primary schools.
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News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
Raj Thackeray Warns MNS Leaders Against Speaking Publicly Amid Marathi Row
Last Updated: MNS chief Raj Thackeray warned party leaders against public statements amid the Marathi row, prohibiting engagement with media and social platforms without his permission. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday warned party leaders against speaking publicly amid the ongoing Marathi row. In a post on X, Thackeray, who recently reunited with estranged cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, asked party leaders not to engage with media or post person reactions on social media. 'A Clear Directive… No one from the party is to engage with newspapers, news channels, or any digital media platforms. Likewise, posting personal reaction videos on social media is strictly prohibited. Even those official spokespersons who have been entrusted with the responsibility of media communication must not speak to any media outlet or express themselves on social media without consulting me and obtaining my permission," he wrote in a post on X. High drama unfolded in Mira Bhayandar area near Mumbai on Tuesday as hundreds took part in a protest march led by the MNS and other groups to defend the Marathi 'asmita' (pride) amid rising political heat following the attack on a shopkeeper for refusal to speak Marathi. The march witnessed detention of several activists by the police with leaders and workers of opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) also joining the protest. Shiv Sena minister Pratap Sarnaik was heckled and driven away by angry demonstrators as he visited the site to express solidarity. The march organised by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and other pro-Marathi groups under the aegis of Marathi Ekikaran Samiti to counter a protest staged by traders recently against the slapping of a food stall owner by MNS workers on July 1 for not speaking Marathi. A video of the assault had gone viral on social media, following which traders in Bhayandar staged a protest, seeking action against the attackers. Seven MNS members were later detained. Thousands of people holding placards, flags and wearing white caps emblazoned with 'Mi Marathi" slogans, walked enthusiastically on the streets in Mira Road and adjoining Bhayandar. Several women, workers of the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) walked together, united by the Marathi cause. The row over the 'imposition" of language in primary schools of Maharashtra has snowballed into a major political flash point ahead of civic polls. The 'language' issue took a nasty turn with former BJP MP Dinesh Lal Yadav alias Nirhua daring the Thackeray cousins to throw him out of Mumbai for speaking Bhojpuri. On Monday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey caused a flutter with his 'patak, patak ke marenge" remarks targeting the Thackeray cousins. (with PTI inputs)


NDTV
34 minutes ago
- NDTV
'Not Raj Thackeray's MNS But...': Priyanka Chaturvedi On Marathi Language Row
New Delhi: Outrage over violence by goons from Raj Thackeray's MNS - who have attacked non-Marathi speakers with impunity over the past week, including a Rajasthani-origin Mumbai shopkeeper - should not detract from the context of the opposition's protests against the 'imposition' of Hindi, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi told NDTV Tuesday evening. She told NDTV she does not agree with the violence but asked why the media had, so far, ignored the opposition saying Class I students should not be forced to learn a third language. She also suggested provocative comments by some people, including BJP MPs - she called out the saffron party's Lok Sabha rep, Nishikant Dubey, for his crass 'tumhe patak-patak ke maarenge' comment and disrespect of Maharashtra - may have led to some of the violence. "It is not the MNS that has precipitated this crisis... it is the Maharashtra government's decision to bring in an order to make a language compulsory for Class I students," Ms Chaturvedi said. "We have seen an entire narrative come out without bringing in the context to this crisis... let me start with the MNS. I totally do not agree with what happened... " she said, referring to the Mumbai shopkeeper assault that was quickly followed by others, including a video in which the staff of a shop in Thane were slapped inside the office of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajan Vichare. "For the violence they indulged in there is a law and order mechanism..." she said. As an aside, the MNS has refused to apologise for the violence, declaring that in each case their party workers had been 'provoked' into attacking by people disrespecting the Marathi language. On the leniency of that mechanism - the seven men who assaulted the Mumbai shopkeeper were only served a notice by the police and allowed to walk scot-free - Ms Chaturvedi said she could not comment because she does not represent the ruling party, i.e., the BJP. But is the language row - over the 'imposition' of Hindi - that must be the focus of the political narrative, the Sena (UBT) leader insisted to NDTV. "We came in at a point where we said Class I students should not be forced to study a third language... that they should have the option." "They (the Maharashtra government) realised their mistake... that they could not bring in the language in such a manner and that is why you saw a lot of debate happen around it... that debate only came after there was strong opposition against it," she said. For additional context, the Maharashtra government had issued an order in April requiring all students from Class I to V to learn Hindi as a third language. The order triggered furious protests from pro-Marathi groups that saw it as a way to push Hindi into the Marathi school system. The state then modified the order in June but, faced with furious and escalating opposition, rolled it back completely weeks later. Ms Chaturvedi's party and the MNS have claimed combined credit for that rollback, with bosses Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray - estranged cousins and the son and nephew of Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray - using this to find common ground and renew their political alliance before the critical Mumbai civic body election. That renewal prompted attacks from the BJP, including criticism of the Thackeray's Saturday 'victory rally' and crass comments about the state and its economy by Nishikant Dubey. "He has spoken (about Maharashtra) in such terms that I don't want to repeat them... but I do want to remind him that despite coal mines being in Jharkhand or Bihar, it is an unfortunate reality that people can't find jobs in their state. They come to Maharashtra, which gives them love and respect." On the incidents of violence, which NDTV has called out firmly and repeatedly since they began Sunday last, Ms Chaturvedi pointed out that she herself is a first-generation migrant to Mumbai. "... there are 12 crore people in Maharashtra, about 1.5 crore of whom come from other states. All coexist peacefully... my own parents came from UP to make a home for in Mumbai." "I am a first-generation migrant... but look at what Mumbai has given me, look what Maharashtra has given me. The party you are accusing of not being tolerant of Hindi sent me to the Rajya Sabha and gave me an opportunity to represent the state..." Ms Chaturvedi also pointed out that she herself speaks "very limited Marathi" but had never faced a problem because of that. The point, she said, was not that Marathi had to be spoken, but that it had to be respected. "... even now we are being asked, 'why are you opposed to Hindi?' But we are not. Why is it the nuance of why we are protesting has been lost?" she asked, referring to a 'dare' by a Bhojpuri actor in Mumbai, Dinesh Lal Yadav, who is popularly known as Nirahua.


NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Video: UP Minister Suffers Minor Injuries After Cars In Her Convoy Collide
Hapur: Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Secondary Education Gulab Devi and another person sustained minor injuries when her convoy ended in a pile-up here on Tuesday, police said. The incident happened in the afternoon near the Chhijarsi toll plaza in Hapur, they said. According to officials, the convoy was en route from Delhi to Amroha, when sudden braking of some vehicles in front led to a pile-up. "Three vehicles in front stopped abruptly, causing the escort vehicle and the minister's car to crash into them. Gulab Devi sustained minor injuries in the accident," an official said. UP के शिक्षा मंत्री के काफिले की दुर्घटना का CCTV यूपी के हापुड़ में शिक्षा मंत्री गुलाब देवी के काफिले का हुआ एक्सीडेंट, देखिए दुर्घटना का CCTV वीडियो #UttarPradesh | #CCTVVideo — NDTV India (@ndtvindia) July 8, 2025 The minister was immediately transferred to Rama Hospital in another vehicle. Police said they have taken the drivers responsible into custody. Following the incident, Hapur District Magistrate Abhishek Pandey and Superintendent of Police Kunwar Gyananjay Singh visited the spot. They also checked on the minister's condition and ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident. "Minister Gulab Devi is out of danger and was discharged after medical treatment. The convoy later resumed its journey to Amroha," Pandey said. Responding to the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wished the minister a speedy recovery. In an X post in Hindi, he said, "I received the distressing news that my colleague, Minister of Secondary Education (Independent Charge) Gulab Devi, was injured in a road accident in Hapur district today. I pray to Lord Shri Ram for her speedy recovery." Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak also expressed concern over the minister's injury and wished her a quickly recovery.