Estranged Thackeray brothers reunite in show of strength after 20 years to raise ‘voice of Marathi’

In a unique show of strength, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray addressed a joint victory rally in Worli Dome on Saturday, after the split in the Shiv Sena in 2005.

The victory rally titled, ‘Awaj Marathicha’ (voice of Marathi) celebrates the MahaYuti government’s decision to withdraw two government resolutions on the introduction of Hindi from Classes 1 to 5. 

Joining hands ahead of the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated in the next six months, Uddhav and Raj decided to jointly rake up issues of Marathi language and ‘Marathi Manoos’ in a serious bid to corner the BJP-led MahaYuti government in Maharashtra.

Both the parties decided not to display party flags and banners, but the Shiv Sainiks and ManSainiks worked hard to put up a major show of strength on Saturday.

Before they spoke, the Communist leader Prakash Reddy, the Peasants and Workers Party of India leader Jayant Patil and NCP (SP) leader and party MP Supriya Sule were expected to address the rally.

Incidentally, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has conveyed his inability to be part of the joint rally due to prior engagements, but said his party is against the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra.

The senior Pawar chose to stay away so that the focus will remain on both the Thackeray brothers.

The Congress has decided not to join the rally especially due to differences with Raj Thackeray’s protests against Hindi speaking people, especially North Indians.

Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS sources said that if the Congress decides to join at the last moment, the party representative will be given an opportunity to address the joint rally.

Big screens were installed inside and outside the joint rally venue for the huge turnout.

Both the Thackeray cousins have said that the issue of imposition of Hindi is not yet over as the government’s move to appoint the Narendra Jadhav committee is meaningless and they will continue to oppose the introduction of Hindi.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday addressed concerns over the incident involving alleged language-based hooliganism where a shopkeeper was arrested for not speaking Marathi language.

Fadnavis said, “It is not wrong to take pride in the Marathi language in Maharashtra. But if anyone indulges in hooliganism in the name of language, we will not tolerate it... I am sometimes surprised that these people embrace English but raise disputes over Hindi. What kind of thinking is this?...”

(With inputs from syndicated feed)