“We have come together to stay together,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday, as he shared the stage with his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray after nearly two decades.
The joint appearance at a rally in Mumbai marked a significant political moment in Maharashtra, coming amid a heated state-wide row over the now-withdrawn three-language formula.
The rare reunion comes months after Raj Thackeray withdrew his support to the BJP-led Maharashtra government, a partnership he had extended during assembly elections last year. Thackeray brothers' united front is a result of growing anger over the language policy and what Raj described as an attempt to undermine Marathi identity.
The joint rally, as per Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, sent a strong signal of regional unity. “Since we announced about this program, everyone was eagerly waiting for our speech today, but in my view, we both coming together, and this stage was more important than our speeches. Raj Thackeray has already given a very outstanding speech, and I think there is no need for me to speak now,” Uddhav told the crowd.
The Sena (UBT) chief also said, "We won't let the government impose Hindi on us".
Also Read: Maharashtra language row brings Thackeray brothers on same stage after 20 years
Without naming his political rivals, Uddhav accused them of misusing Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy. “You (Shiv Sena) have used us enough already. If you didn't have the support of Balasaheb Thackeray, who knew you in Maharashtra. Who are you to teach us about Hindutva?” he said.
Uddhav also responded strongly to criticisms of the public protests against the language policy. “When riots were happening in Mumbai, then we Marathi people had saved every Hindu in Maharashtra, be it anyone. If you are calling Marathi people 'gundas' doing their protest, seeking justice. Then yes, we are 'gunda',” he said.
He further took a sharp dig at the BJP and said, "When the BJP says that they want one Constitution, one Symbol and 1 Prime Minister, then they should remember that one symbol is the tricolour and not the BJP's flag, which is only a piece of cloth used to clean utensils."
At the rally Raj Thackeray also made sharp remarks, where he accused the state government of using the three-language formula as a test to divide Mumbai from Maharashtra.
The joint appearance at a rally in Mumbai marked a significant political moment in Maharashtra, coming amid a heated state-wide row over the now-withdrawn three-language formula.
The rare reunion comes months after Raj Thackeray withdrew his support to the BJP-led Maharashtra government, a partnership he had extended during assembly elections last year. Thackeray brothers' united front is a result of growing anger over the language policy and what Raj described as an attempt to undermine Marathi identity.
The joint rally, as per Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, sent a strong signal of regional unity. “Since we announced about this program, everyone was eagerly waiting for our speech today, but in my view, we both coming together, and this stage was more important than our speeches. Raj Thackeray has already given a very outstanding speech, and I think there is no need for me to speak now,” Uddhav told the crowd.
The Sena (UBT) chief also said, "We won't let the government impose Hindi on us".
Also Read: Maharashtra language row brings Thackeray brothers on same stage after 20 years
Without naming his political rivals, Uddhav accused them of misusing Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy. “You (Shiv Sena) have used us enough already. If you didn't have the support of Balasaheb Thackeray, who knew you in Maharashtra. Who are you to teach us about Hindutva?” he said.
Uddhav also responded strongly to criticisms of the public protests against the language policy. “When riots were happening in Mumbai, then we Marathi people had saved every Hindu in Maharashtra, be it anyone. If you are calling Marathi people 'gundas' doing their protest, seeking justice. Then yes, we are 'gunda',” he said.
He further took a sharp dig at the BJP and said, "When the BJP says that they want one Constitution, one Symbol and 1 Prime Minister, then they should remember that one symbol is the tricolour and not the BJP's flag, which is only a piece of cloth used to clean utensils."
At the rally Raj Thackeray also made sharp remarks, where he accused the state government of using the three-language formula as a test to divide Mumbai from Maharashtra.
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