By Sulagna Halder
Mumbai, 27 June 2025:
In a stunning political move, estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav banded together to lead a protest in Mumbai on July 5th against the Maharashtra government's plan to make Hindi instruction mandatory in state run primary schools.
Sanjay Raut, an MP for the Shiv Sena (UBT), announced the protest on X, saying that both leaders would "march together in a single, united protest against the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra schools." "Jai Maharashtra!" . The influential Thackeray pair will be appearing together on a common political platform for the first time in almost 20 years.
The implementation of the National Education Policy's three language formula by the state government, which mandated Hindi as a required language in both Marathi medium and English medium schools from Class 1 to Class 5, is the focal point. Both Thackerays see even the idea of mandatory Hindi as a threat to Marathi identity, even though the original Government Resolution permitted students to choose not to learn Hindi if at least 20 chose to learn another language. The demonstration will be a combined event that builds upon separate rallies that both leaders had previously planned: Uddhav from Azad Maidan on July 7 and Raj from Girgaon Chowpatty on July 6. According to Raut, both leaders decided to consolidate these efforts into a single, coordinated demonstration on July 5th after some deliberation.
"On July 5, MNS and Sena (UBT) will lead a joint protest," stated Sanjay Raut. The strength of the Marathi people will be compared to that of the Sanyukta Maharashtra Movement. This is a very important political event. Since Raj Thackeray left the Shiv Sena in 2005 to found MNS , the Thackeray cousins have been at odds. Their current stance against what they see as the imposition of Hindi suggests a possible reconciliation as well as a united front to defend regional language and culture.
The timing, according to critics, is politically motivated in advance of the October Municipal Corporation elections. Supporters, however, contend that Maharashtra's cultural identity is in danger due to the language policy. Sandeep Deshpande, president of MNS Mumbai, stated: "We are grateful to both brothers. The match will be the one to alter the state.
Hindi is merely a link language, allowing for formal exemptions, while Marathi is still required, according to State Education Minister Dada Bhuse. The Thackerays, however, continue to find the policy intolerable. All eyes will be on Mumbai on July 5th as both leaders get ready to lead a big rally. Their infrequent political reunion could change future alliances in Maharashtra's unstable political environment in addition to drawing attention back to language politics.
