Uddhav, Raj Thackeray Announce Joint ‘United March’ In Mumbai; Invite Congress, Sharad Pawar To Join Protest
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Thursday announced a joint protest march in Mumbai on July 26, calling it the “United March” in support of students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak and demanding accountability from the Centre.
Addressing a joint press conference at Raj Thackeray’s residence, the two leaders said the march would begin from Shivaji Park and conclude at Siddhivinayak Temple. They also extended an invitation to Congress leaders and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar to participate in the demonstration.
Raj Thackeray said the march would be held under the national flag and urged participants not to carry the flags of any political party, stressing that the protest should remain centred on the concerns of students rather than political affiliations.
He accused the Centre of responding harshly to student demonstrations and alleged that peaceful protests were being met with force. Raj also recalled that political parties, including the BJP when it was in the opposition, had previously organised protests and sought ministerial resignations over issues of public concern.
Referring to former Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil’s resignation after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Raj said political accountability had been demanded in the past and similar standards should apply today.
Taking aim at the Union government, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on social media did not address the larger concerns being raised by students and accused the Centre of displaying “arrogance of power”.
Uddhav Thackeray said public anger had grown beyond demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. According to him, many people now believe that broader political change is necessary.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also confirmed that he had spoken to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal regarding the proposed march and reiterated his appeal to Sharad Pawar and other opposition leaders to join the demonstration.
The announcement comes amid continuing protests in several parts of the country over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for accountability in the examination system.
