Saturday marked a special day in the political arena of Maharashtra. The moment everyone speculated for years finally arrived as Uddhav and Raj Thackeray appeared on stage together, accompanied by family members. This joint appearance was part of the Marathi Victory Rally organized by both leaders.
Raj Thackeray was the first to address the gathering, stating that what Balasaheb Thackeray couldn't achieve, Devendra Fadnavis made possible by uniting them.
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- We are not against Hanuman Chalisa or Jai Shri Ram, but why is there discomfort with Marathi? Most of Mumbai's land is now owned by Adani. We should be ashamed that our martyrs shed their blood for Mumbai, and yet we couldn't preserve our land. Soon, Mumbai's land will be entirely in Adani's hands
: Uddhav Thackeray
- Now they ask if we are not Marathi. Do we have to undergo a blood test to prove our Marathi identity? We won Mumbai; we fought for it while the then politicians didn’t want Marathi people in Maharashtra. The central government now says - Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan. We accept Hindu and Hindustan, but not Hindi. The imposition of Hindi will not be tolerated. Generations may pass, but we will not allow this to happen
: Uddhav Thackeray
- After so many years, Raj and I have met on stage. He respectfully called me Uddhav Thackeray, so it's my duty to respect him the same way. Raj spoke excellently, hence, I believe there's not much more that needs to be said. Beyond our speeches, it is vital to show unity. We came together to stay together
: Uddhav Thackeray
We (Raj and I) will stay united. We came together to stay united. They began a use-and-throw policy. Now we will oust you. You search for Modi's school. Hinduism is not monopolized. We are deeply rooted Hindus; we don't need lessons on being Hindu. During the '92 riots in Mumbai, it was the Marathi people who protected Hindus. Fadnavis said they won't tolerate hooliganism. But if fighting for our language is hooliganism, then yes, we are hooligans
: Uddhav Thackeray
- Now they will start politics based on caste. They want to divide you based on caste. They won't let you unite for the Marathi language. If someone gets hurt and sees a Gujarati, what then… Uniting as Marathi sounds the way you came together, but now they will try to divide you into castes. That’s their mentality. Someone slapped a person on Mira Road because he was Gujarati... but was it written on the forehead that he was Gujarati? It was an issue between two people. But if they make another mistake, we will retaliate, though we won’t harm anyone without reason
: Raj Thackeray
- Non-Hindi states are more progressive, and should we learn Hindi? Should we be ashamed that we studied languages that required hard work to build? Amit Shah said those who know English should be ashamed – that’s your problem. We ruled this region for 125 years—did we impose Marathi? Did we impose despite obstacles? Hindi is 200 years old. They just tested us
: Raj Thackeray
- In the south, Stalin, Kanimozhi, Jayalalitha, Nara Lokesh, AR Rahman, Suriya—they studied in English? Rahman left the dais when a speaker started talking in Hindi. Balasaheb and my father, Shrikant Thackeray, studied in English, but they were sensitive towards Marathi, their mother tongue. Balasaheb studied in English but never compromised on the Marathi language. No one should look down upon Marathi
: Raj Thackeray
- When our children go to English medium schools, our Marathi is questioned. Lal Krishna Advani studied in a missionary school; should we question his Hindutva? We will not tolerate imposing Hindi. They simply want to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra; that's their agenda. But if they dare, they will understand the strength of the Marathi identity. They are trying to divert the issue. Now, they raise the point that Thackeray's children studied in English. What nonsense is this? Many BJP leaders studied in English medium… yet, does anyone doubt their Hindutva
: Raj Thackeray
- While addressing the gathering, Raj Thackeray said, 'Where did this three-language formula come from? Will you force young children? No one will look askance at Maharashtra. Hindi is a good language; all languages are good. Let someone try to lay a finger on Mumbai.'
- Raj Thackeray remarked in an interview that his Maharashtra is bigger than any politics or conflict. Today, after 20 years, he and Uddhav have come together. What Balasaheb couldn't achieve, Fadnavis made happen... bringing us together...
- Raj Thackeray arrived with his wife Sharmila and their children Amit and Urvashi, while Uddhav arrived with his wife Rashmi and sons Aditya and Tejas at the venue.
- Prior to attending the 'Victory Gathering' in Worli, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray might visit the Bal Thackeray memorial 'Smriti Sthal' located in Shivaji Park.
- Regarding the rally, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stated, "... This is like a festival for all of us in Maharashtra that two main leaders of the Thackeray family, who had been separated due to their political ideologies, are finally sharing a stage together after 20 long years. We always wished to fight those against the people of Maharashtra. By coming together today, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will definitely guide the Marathi people."
Read More: Nitesh Rane challenges Thackeray brothers on the Marathi language dispute—Will Uddhav and Raj accept?
- This reunion is being seen as a political upheaval since Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have long gone their separate ways. However, by jointly opposing the tri-language formula proposed by the central government, they forced the state government to defer the proposed policy for now.
Expectations and Attendance for the Rally
The rally is being celebrated as a "Victory of Marathi Unity," featuring notable figures like writers, educators, artists, poets, and journalists passionate about the Marathi culture. The venue at Worli Dome is equipped to seat 7,000-8,000 people, with additional screens outside to accommodate the crowd.
Through this rally, the Thackeray brothers aim to convey the message that it’s time to rise above political differences for Marathi pride and language. Notably, Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Harshvardhan Sapkal are absent despite an invitation from MNS, fueling discussions.
Read More: Will Maharashtra Politics Take a Turn? After 20 Years, Today Thackeray Brothers Will Share the Stage, Sharad Pawar and Congress Keep Their Distance
BJP MP Narayan Rane and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Ramdas Kadam interpret this unity as a strategy to maintain relevance in the upcoming BMC elections. Meanwhile, MNS leader Prakash Mahajan hopes this platform will symbolize unity and respect within the Marathi community.
Now, the question arises: will the Thackeray brothers' 'Marathi Alliance' remain confined to the stage, or could it herald a significant shift in political dynamics? Is this a signal for the resurgence of Marathi identity in Mumbai's politics?
