Thackeray cousins share stage after 20 years
Mumbai, July 5 (UNI) Estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray on Saturday shared stage at NSIC Dome in Worli for the first time in nearly two decades for a joint 'victory rally' to celebrate the BJP-led Mahayuti government's rollback of two contentious government resolutions on the three-language policy in Maharashtra.
Called Marathi Vijay Diwas, the event is being organised by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Worli.
The rally marks a political victory for the two parties after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis revoked two resolutions that had introduced Hindi as a third language in primary schools.
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Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
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India, Trinidad and Tobago to boost ties in health, digitalisation, agriculture
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Earlier, while addressing the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, Modi said India will work with its partners to give the Global South its 'rightful seat at the right table', create a fairer world order and ensure reforms of global bodies such as the UN. Modi, the first Indian premier to address a joint assembly of the Parliament of the Caribbean nation, described terrorism as the enemy of humanity and said India and Trinidad and Tobago must be united to deny terrorism any space. 'It is time for us to work together, to give the Global South its rightful seat at the right table. To ensure climate justice, so that the burden does not fall on those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis. We consider Trinidad and Tobago an important partner in this endeavour,' Modi said. Also Read: PM says India working to give Global South rightful place At a time when the world is facing challenges such as climate change, food, health and energy security, and terrorism remains a pressing threat, the 'Global South is rising', Modi said. There are also new challenges in space and cyber security and artificial Intelligence is unlocking new opportunities and risks.. The countries of the Global South 'wish to see a new and fairer world order', he said. Hopes about the realisation of long-pending reforms of the UN have 'turned into disappointment' and the 'voice of the developing world remains on the margins', he said. 'India has always tried to bridge this gap,' he added. India brought the concerns of the Global South to the centre of global decision-making during its presidency of the G20 and provided vaccines and medicines to more than 150 countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. 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Scroll.in
29 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
‘We came together to stay together': Uddhav Thackeray at first rally with Raj Thackeray in 19 years
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However, after the government withdrew the resolution, the two parties decided to hold a joint 'victory rally' on Saturday. In 2005, Raj Thackeray quit the undivided Shiv Sena and formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena a year later. The Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have been political rivals for the past two decades. On Saturday, the Uddhav Thackeray chief said that the state government would not be allowed to impose Hindi in Maharashtra, PTI reported. Raj Thackeray claimed that the proposed three-language formula was a 'precursor to its plan' to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. 'The Maharashtra government rolled back the decision on the three-language formula due to the strong unity shown by Marathi people,' he added. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief also claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had 'managed to do what Balasaheb Thackeray could not – bring myself and Uddhav together'. On June 29, the state government withdrew its resolution to teach Hindi as the third language to students from Class 1 to Class 5. Fadnavis also announced that a new committee had been formed to advise the state on implementing the National Education Policy's three-language formula. This came amid a state-wide row triggered by the Mahayuti government's June 17 order making Hindi a ' generally ' taught third language. The Mahayuti alliance comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the Nationalist Congress Party group led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The June 17 order had said that if 20 students per grade in a school wished to study any other Indian language, they can opt out of Hindi. If such a demand arises, either a teacher will be appointed or the language will be taught online. आवाज महाराष्ट्राचा, आवाज मराठी माणसाचा, आवाज ठाकरेंचा! | भव्य विजयी मेळावा! | एन. एस. सी. आय. डोम, वरळी, मुंबई - #LIVE — ShivSena - शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) July 5, 2025 'If you beat someone, don't make a video': Raj Thackeray On Saturday, Raj Thackeray also told supporters that people living in Maharashtra should know Marathi but there was no need to beat someone if they do not speak the language, ANI reported. However, he added: '…if someone shows useless drama, you must hit below their eardrums.' 'I tell you one more thing: if you beat someone, don't make a video of the incident,' he said. 'Let the person beaten up tell that he has been beaten up, you don't need to tell everyone that you have beaten someone.' This came after seven persons, believed to be members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, were booked earlier this week for assaulting a shopkeeper in Thane district's Mira Road for not speaking in Marathi. In a police complaint, Babulal Khimji Chaudhary stated that members of the party had come to his sweet shop at 10.30 am on June 29. When a worker in the shop spoke to them in Hindi, they got angry. They allegedly abused the worker for not speaking Marathi. 'Two of the men came to me and again said that I need to know Marathi if I have to work and then assaulted me after an argument,' Chaudhary added. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has been part of a campaign against the implementation of the three-language policy in state schools, alleging it was an attempt to impose Hindi in the Marathi-speaking state. 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Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Marathi row turns violent: 5 MNS workers held after ‘Kya Karna Hai Bol?' post leads to attack on Sushil Kedia's office; investor apologises
NEW DELHI: Mumbai investor Sushil Kedia's office in Worli was vandalised on Saturday morning by unidentified individuals allegedly linked to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), days after he publicly challenged party chief Raj Thackeray and declared he would not learn Marathi. The attackers raised slogans in support of Thackeray and hurled stones at the office. Police have detained five MNS supporters in connection with the incident and said security had already been deployed at the site following earlier threats to Kedia. What do we know so far- The trigger: Kedia's post against Marathi Sushil Kedia, a long-time resident of Mumbai and founder of an investment service firm, had posted a provocative message on social media platform X on July 3. In it, he declared: 'I don't know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai & with your gross misconduct I have made it a resolve that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi Manus I take pratigya I won't learn Marathi. Kya karna hai bol?' MNS reaction: 'Stay in your lane' The post drew a sharp response from MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande, who posted on X: 'Do business if you're a businessman; don't try to act like our father. If you insult Marathi in Maharashtra, you'll get a slap on the ear, otherwise, stay in your lane, Mehta or whoever. That's all for now.' Attack on Saturday morning According to police, a group of unidentified men showed up at Kedia's office near Century Bazar in Worli on Saturday morning and began vandalising the premises. They shouted pro-Marathi slogans and praised Raj Thackeray. Stones were thrown at the office, though no injuries were reported. Five MNS supporters were later detained. Kedia apologises after vandalism Hours after the attack, Kedia posted a video on X apologising to Raj Thackeray. The caption read: 'I request Raj Thackeray Ji to consider my humble submission.' Police protection and public appeal Earlier in the week, Kedia had approached police after receiving threats online. He tagged the Mumbai Police and other authorities, writing: 'Shri @RajThackeray threatening me by 100s of your workers is not going to make me a fluent Marathi speaker... With so much threatening around even more fear happens that if I miss speaking any word(s) improperly more violence will happen.' 'Please note @CPMumbaiPolice @Dev_Fadnavis open threats of violence are being issued by @RajThackeray workers. Provide me safety. Is an Indian having any rights to dignity & safety in Maharashtra today is a question even our @HMOIndia @AmitShah ji might ponder on as well.' Wider context: Mira Road incident The episode comes on the heels of another controversy involving MNS. In Mira Road, a sweet shop owner was recently beaten by seven MNS workers for not speaking Marathi. The incident, caught on camera, led to widespread protests in the area, with many shopkeepers shutting their establishments in solidarity. The MNS workers were detained but later released after being served police notices. The party has refused to apologise. Police say further investigation is underway in the Worli case, and additional security measures remain in place around Kedia's office.
