When Raj meets Uddhav (again): Thackerays to hold joint 'victory' rally today; reunite over Hindi 'imposition'
NEW DELHI: For the first time in 20 years, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief
Uddhav Thackeray
and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president
Raj Thackeray
will share the stage on Saturday. The two leaders will address a joint "victory" rally organised by their parties to mark the withdrawal of government resolutions (GRs) related to the three-language policy.
The rally is being held at the NSCI Dome in central Mumbai's Worli, which falls in the assembly constituency of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. The gathering is also seen as significant ahead of the upcoming local body elections, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, whose parties have been vocal on the issues of Marathi language and identity, last shared a stage in 2005 during the Malvan assembly bypoll campaign.
That was after former chief minister Narayan Rane had left the undivided Shiv Sena. Raj Thackeray quit the party later that year and launched the MNS in 2006.
The rally comes in the backdrop of protests against the April 16 GR issued by the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, which made Hindi a compulsory third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools. Following backlash, the government amended the GR on June 17, making Hindi optional.
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On June 29, the cabinet decided to withdraw both GRs entirely.
On the same day, leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS had burnt copies of the GRs and had planned a protest march for July 5. After the rollback, both parties decided to hold a joint "victory" event instead. Uddhav and Raj had then said the government blinked after witnessing the unity of Maharashtrians and did not want them to come together.
Though the two parties have chosen not to display any party flags, symbols, hoardings or scarves during the event, the political significance of the rally is being seen in the backdrop of their recent electoral performance.
In the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats while the MNS failed to win any.
The parties have invited other political groups that opposed the GRs, as well as members of the literary and art community, to take part in the rally.
The Congress, a partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT), has however said it will not attend the event. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the party supports the stand against making Hindi mandatory but will not join the rally.
NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) president Sharad Pawar also said in Pune on Thursday that he would not be attending due to prior commitments. However, NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil said the party would be represented either by working president Supriya Sule or MLA Jitendra Awhad. Patil said MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar had personally invited the NCP (SP).
The rally takes place amid recent incidents involving both parties. MNS activists were seen on camera assaulting a food stall owner for not speaking Marathi. In another case, two people were made to apologise to a man in front of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Rajan Vichare for allegedly attacking him. 'Speak in Marathi since you have hit a Marathi person,' a voice is heard telling one of the two men while he tries to say something to Vichare, a former MP from Thane.
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