At Joint Rally, Uddhav Thackeray Asks PM to Stop Party Poaching; Raj Praises Student Protests

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray addressed a joint rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday, with the former launching a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the latter hailing the student agitation over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.

The event, called the Tiranga Vijay Rally, was organised in support of the youth-led protests that have been ongoing for over a week. The protests led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday.

In his speech, Uddhav Thackeray urged Prime Minister Modi to focus on governance and stop “breaking political parties.” He accused the central government of using state machinery to destabilise rival parties. “Instead of breaking parties, the Prime Minister should focus on governing the country,” Thackeray said.

Raj Thackeray, meanwhile, praised the students who agitated against the NEET paper leak. “This is a victory for the youth of India. The protest showed that people can force the government to act when it fails in its duties,” he said.

The NEET-UG paper leak controversy erupted after allegations that question papers were leaked in several states. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the case. Pradhan’s resignation came amid growing pressure from opposition parties and student groups.

Uddhav Thackeray also made a pointed remark directed at the Prime Minister, referring to Pradhan’s resignation. “A cockroach has defeated the dictator,” he said, in a clear reference to Modi. The comment drew cheers from the crowd.

The rally at Shivaji Park, a historic venue for political gatherings in Mumbai, underscored the unity between the two Thackeray cousins, who have often been at odds politically. Their joint appearance is seen as an attempt to consolidate the Maratha vote bank and present a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Both leaders emphasised the importance of transparent governance and accountability. The event concluded with a call for continuing the fight against corruption and maladministration.