Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray came together on the same stage after nearly 20 years, in a rare show of unity, as protests over the state’s three-language formula sparked widespread backlash.
The rally marked a significant political moment, with the two estranged cousins jointly voicing opposition to the state government's attempt to implement the policy.
Addressing a victory gathering, titled 'Awaj Marathicha', in Mumbai, Raj Thackeray credited public pressure for forcing the government to reverse its decision. “The Maharashtra government rolled back the decision on the three-language formula due to strong unity shown by Marathi people,” he said.
Raj and Uddhav Thackeray were once seen as the two political heirs of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. While Uddhav was appointed as the party’s executive president in 2003, Raj eventually broke away in 2005 following internal differences and formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in 2006.
The show of solidarity between the Thackeray cousins was as much a political message as it was personal. “I am sharing the stage with Uddhav Thackeray after almost 20 years,” Raj said, adding, “CM Fadnavis managed to do what Balasaheb Thackeray could not — bring myself and Uddhav together.”
Raj further claimed that the policy move was a test balloon for a much larger plan. “Decision on the three-language formula was a precursor to the plan of separating Mumbai from Maharashtra,” he said at the joint rally with Uddhav.
Raj Thackeray also defended the importance of preserving the Marathi language without attacking others. “I don’t have anything against Hindi. No language is bad. It takes a lot of effort to build a language,” he said. “We Marathi people ruled over a lot of states during the Maratha Empire, but we never enforced Marathi on those parts. They started with the experiment of imposing Hindi over us and were trying to test — if we had not opposed it, they would have gone up to making Mumbai separate from Maharashtra.”
Speaking on the legacy of his uncle Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj added, “Balasaheb Thackeray studied in an English school, worked in an English newspaper but never compromised on the status of Marathi.”
The rally marked a significant political moment, with the two estranged cousins jointly voicing opposition to the state government's attempt to implement the policy.
Addressing a victory gathering, titled 'Awaj Marathicha', in Mumbai, Raj Thackeray credited public pressure for forcing the government to reverse its decision. “The Maharashtra government rolled back the decision on the three-language formula due to strong unity shown by Marathi people,” he said.
Raj and Uddhav Thackeray were once seen as the two political heirs of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. While Uddhav was appointed as the party’s executive president in 2003, Raj eventually broke away in 2005 following internal differences and formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in 2006.
The show of solidarity between the Thackeray cousins was as much a political message as it was personal. “I am sharing the stage with Uddhav Thackeray after almost 20 years,” Raj said, adding, “CM Fadnavis managed to do what Balasaheb Thackeray could not — bring myself and Uddhav together.”
Raj further claimed that the policy move was a test balloon for a much larger plan. “Decision on the three-language formula was a precursor to the plan of separating Mumbai from Maharashtra,” he said at the joint rally with Uddhav.
Raj Thackeray also defended the importance of preserving the Marathi language without attacking others. “I don’t have anything against Hindi. No language is bad. It takes a lot of effort to build a language,” he said. “We Marathi people ruled over a lot of states during the Maratha Empire, but we never enforced Marathi on those parts. They started with the experiment of imposing Hindi over us and were trying to test — if we had not opposed it, they would have gone up to making Mumbai separate from Maharashtra.”
Speaking on the legacy of his uncle Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj added, “Balasaheb Thackeray studied in an English school, worked in an English newspaper but never compromised on the status of Marathi.”
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