Uddhav And Raj Thackeray Join Hands For Marathi Pride: Joint Rally Over Language Issue On July 6
The plan initially involved Raj Thackeray leading a rally on July 6 and Uddhav Thackeray organising a separate march on July 7. But after talks, a single joint rally will be held.
In a surprising political turn, Maharashtra's fiery Thackeray brothers — Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray — are set to share a platform after years of sharp differences. The two leaders will lead a joint protest rally on July 6 to oppose what they call the forced imposition of Hindi in the state's schools and to demand stronger safeguards for the Marathi language. This rare show of unity was confirmed when Sanjay Raut, senior leader from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, took to social media to make a pointed announcement — first in Marathi, then in English. In his post, Raut tagged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, signaling that the message was meant for Delhi as much as for Mumbai. Declaring that Maharashtra would witness a united fight against Hindi dominance, he underlined that the Thackeray name itself is a brand synonymous with Marathi pride.
The developments gained further weight as leaders from Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) spoke publicly about the need for every Marathi-speaking citizen to stand together. According to MNS leaders, the time has come to resist any attempt to sideline Marathi in schools through policies that allegedly push Hindi more aggressively than ever before.
What makes this moment remarkable is that it brings together two cousins who have often been on opposing sides of Maharashtra's fractious political landscape. The plan initially involved Raj Thackeray leading a rally on July 6 and Uddhav Thackeray organising a separate march on July 7. But following backchannel discussions, a single massive rally will now be held on July 6 to demonstrate a united front.
Meanwhile, the ruling MVA has dismissed these moves as theatrics timed with the upcoming elections. Senior BJP leaders have claimed there is no official compulsion to enforce Hindi in state-run schools and that the opposition is misleading Marathi-speaking voters for political mileage. They insist that the current government remains fully committed to protecting the primacy of Marathi in Maharashtra's cultural and educational fabric. Critics from the ruling side have also attacked Uddhav Thackeray, questioning why his concern for Marathi was missing when he was Chief Minister. They accused him of using the language issue to recover lost ground ahead of polls and claim that this sudden embrace of Raj Thackeray is a last-ditch effort to stay politically relevant.
Despite the political crossfire, the prospect of the Thackeray brothers sharing a stage has ignited speculation in Maharashtra's political circles. Their supporters believe that when it comes to defending Marathi identity, old rivalries can be set aside. For many citizens, this rally could be more than just a protest — it may mark the beginning of a new, if uneasy, understanding between two influential factions that once defined Mumbai's streets and Maharashtra's regional politics.
Whether this new alignment lasts beyond the July 6 rally remains to be seen, but for now, the Thackeray brothers' reunion has certainly captured the state's attention — and Delhi's too.
First Published:
June 27, 2025, 12:04 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
16 minutes ago
- Hans India
Kavitha holds talks with Union Minister Athawale over 42% BC quota
Hyderabad: Telangana Jagruthi President and BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha has appealed to Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale to take the initiative to ensure that the bills passed by the Telangana Assembly and sent for the President's approval to provide 42 per cent reservation to BCs in Telangana are approved. The Union Minister Athawale, who arrived in Hyderabad on Friday, met MLC Kavitha. On this occasion, they discussed the BC movement being carried out by Telangana Jagruthi and the issue of providing 42 per cent reservation to BCs. At the same time, a petition was submitted to the President to take the initiative to approve the BC bills. Kavitha stated that the role of the masses in the development of civilization in the construction of society for generations is very crucial, and at the same time, the lack of representation of those communities in local bodies on the basis of their population is a matter of concern. She explained that OBCs have been agitating for equal opportunities across the country, especially in Telangana, for a long time, and that Telangana Jagruthi strongly believes that the demand for 42 per cent reservation in education, jobs, and local bodies for BCs in Telangana is fair, and in this regard, movements and round table meetings have been organized democratically across the state under the auspices of Telangana Jagruthi. She reminded that the Telangana state government introduced and passed two separate bills in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council and sent them for the President's approval. MLC Kavitha brought to the attention of the Union Minister that even though a long time has passed since the bills were sent for the President's approval, they have not yet received the seal of approval. 'We appeal to you to take the initiative to give the President's approval to the bills providing 42 per cent reservation to BCs in Telangana,' said Kavitha.
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Centre approves suspension of three IPS officers over Bengaluru stampede incident: Report
The Union government has formally approved the suspension of three senior IPS officers, Dayananda, Vikas Kumar, and Shekhar, in connection with the tragic stampede at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and left several others injured, reported India Today. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda.(ANI) Also Read - Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah flags decline in police investigation quality, calls for urgent reforms This decision follows the Karnataka government's recommendation to suspend the officers for lapses in crowd management during the June 4 victory celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after their IPL 2025 campaign. The Centre has now backed the disciplinary action and communicated its approval to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), reinforcing the state's accountability move. According to the report (CMO), the Centre has also directed the Karnataka government to initiate charge-sheeting proceedings against the three officials within the next 30 days, marking the next step in the disciplinary process. The development comes in the wake of mounting criticism over police mismanagement during the high-profile event, which led to one of the deadliest crowd incidents in the city in recent memory. Siddaramaiah slams lack of timeliness of police Earlier, during a review meeting held at the office of the Director General and Inspector General of Police, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah slammed the handling of the situation and questioned the effectiveness of the state's intelligence apparatus. 'I've been an MLA since 1983 and served as Chief Minister before, but never have I witnessed such a tragic and avoidable failure,' he said, expressing disbelief over the lack of timely alerts and preventive measures. Also Read - Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah flags decline in police investigation quality, calls for urgent reforms Siddaramaiah acknowledged that the decision to suspend senior officers was unfortunate but necessary. 'It saddens me to take such steps, but lapses of this magnitude cannot be ignored,' he stated. He further criticized systemic delays in filing charge sheets in criminal cases, calling it a recurring flaw in the law enforcement process that needs urgent correction.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Humbly accept it as prasad': PM Modi honoured as 'Dharma Chakravarti' on Jain saint Vidyanand's centenary
PM Modi honoured as 'Dharma Chakravarti' on Jain saint Vidyanand's centenary NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday honoured with the title of 'Dharma Chakravarti' on centenary celebrations of Jain spiritual leader Vidyanand at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The title, symbolising a righteous ruler and upholder of dharma, was conferred on PM Modi. Speaking on receiving the award, PM Modi said, "On this occasion, you honoured me with the title of 'Dharma Chakravarti'. I do not consider myself suitable for this. But it is our culture that whatever we receive from saints, we accept it as 'prasad'. So, I humbly accept this 'prasad' and dedicate it to Maa Bharati'." The centenary celebrations mark the beginning of a year-long national tribute to the revered saint and scholar, organised jointly by the Union ministry of culture and the Bhagwan Mahaveer Ahimsa Bharti Trust. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, 'Today, we are all witnessing a significant occasion in India's spiritual tradition. This centenary celebration of Acharya Vidyanand Maharaj, filled with the devotion of his countless followers, has created an extraordinary atmosphere that is truly inspiring for all of us.' According to ANI, the event was also attended by Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Rashtrasant Paramparacharya Pragyasagar Muniraj, alongside other dignitaries, parliamentarians, and Jain acharyas. "This day is also special because on 28th June 1987, Acharya Vidyanand Muniraj received the title of 'Acharya'. It wasn't just an honour but it was also a 'pavitra dhaara' connecting the Jain culture to ideas, restraint and compassion. When we are celebrating his 100th birth anniversary today, it reminds us of that historic moment", PM Modi said. PM Modi also visited a specially curated exhibition titled 'Life and Legacy of Acharya Shri 108 Vidyanand Ji Maharaj', which showcased murals, paintings, and rare archival material chronicling the saint's contributions. PM Modi hailed the renowned Jain saint as 'Yug Purush' and 'Yug Drashta'. He said, 'I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience his spiritual aura in person. He gave me his guidance from time to time. I always had his blessings. Today, from this stage of his centenary celebrations, I can feel his love and closeness." Born in 1925 in Shedbal, Belagavi (Karnataka), Vidyanand became one of the most respected Jain monks of modern India. According to news agency PTI, he memorised over 8,000 Jain Agamic verses and authored more than 50 influential works, including Jain Darshan, Anekantvad, and Mokshmarg Darshan. He lived a life of extreme austerity, walked barefoot across the country, and promoted spiritual egalitarianism and inter-sect harmony. His historical contributions include designing the official Jain Flag and Emblem during the 2500th Nirvana Mahotsav of Bhagwan Mahavir in 1975. The five-colour flag and the Ahimsa hand symbol are now universally accepted across Jain traditions. He was also pivotal in identifying Basokund in Bihar as Bhagwan Mahavir's birthplace — a finding recognised by the Indian government in 1956. The centenary year will be observed until April 22, 2026, through nationwide cultural, literary, educational, and spiritual programmes. As per the Culture Ministry, it will include temple outreach, interfaith dialogues, youth engagement, and Jain heritage awareness initiatives. A commemorative stamp and coin were released, alongside a biographical volume detailing saint's life.
