Uddhav and Raj Thackeray Join Forces After Two Decades to Oppose Mandatory Hindi in Schools

Mumbai: In a dramatic show of unity after two decades of political rivalry, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray came together on July 5 to lead a joint protest in Mumbai, challenging the Maharashtra government’s move to promote Hindi as a compulsory subject in primary education under the National Education Policy (NEP).

Leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), respectively, the Thackeray cousins united to defend what they called “Marathi identity and linguistic pride,” launching a protest march from Worli Dome that drew thousands of supporters. The protest marked their first public collaboration in 20 years, signaling a potentially significant shift in the state’s political landscape.

Speaking at the rally, Uddhav Thackeray said, “This is not about opposing a language, but protecting the place of Marathi in our schools. If we allow this erosion of our language in the name of policy, our identity will be next.” He accused the state government of “quietly centralizing education” under the guise of choice.

Raj Thackeray, echoing the sentiment, warned the government not to impose Hindi on Maharashtra’s children. “This is Maharashtra, not Delhi. Marathi must remain central in our schools. We are not against any language, but we won’t let Hindi replace our mother tongue,” he said to thunderous applause.

The protest march was initially planned as two separate events — Uddhav’s on July 7 and Raj’s ‘Virat Morcha’ on July 6. However, after behind-the-scenes coordination led by Sanjay Raut, the two sides decided to merge their efforts, presenting a rare and symbolic unified Marathi front.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande expressed hope that the joint movement could reshape regional politics. “This is just the beginning. Maharashtra is watching, and so is Delhi,” he said, hinting at possible future cooperation between the estranged cousins.

In response, leaders from the ruling Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the BJP dismissed the protest as political drama ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. They claimed that Hindi is not being made compulsory, and that Marathi remains mandatory in all state schools. “Multiple language options are being provided, and there is no imposition of any one language,” said a senior BJP spokesperson.

Despite the clarification, critics argue that even voluntary promotion of Hindi in the early classes could gradually dilute the presence of Marathi in urban schools.

The Mumbai Police had issued a traffic advisory for the rally, urging commuters to avoid the Worli area between 10 AM and 2 PM. Heavy police deployment was also seen at the venue to ensure peace.