After Hindi imposition GR scrapped: Uddhav, Raj Thackeray cancel protest march, to hold victory rally now
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After Hindi imposition GR scrapped: Uddhav, Raj Thackeray cancel protest march, to hold victory rally now
The much anticipated July 5 protest march, organised by the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has now been cancelled. Uddhav Thackeray has announced that the originally planned protest on July 5 would now be converted into a celebratory public meeting or victory rally. He also criticised the formation of the Narendra Jadhav committee to review the language policy. “We believe both GRs have been cancelled permanently — and it better be. If there is any attempt to revive this, we will not allow that committee to function in Maharashtra,” he said in a press conference in Mumbai. The state was hoping that the protest would fracture from within but it did not and hence the government was forced to withdraw the GRs. ‘Don’t wait for another crisis, remain alert and alert,’ said the state’s CM, who said the report was never considered by the MVA government and that he did not give any approval for it.
While Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut announced that the July 5 march has been called off following the GR rollback, terming it as a ” Marathi people’s victory, Uddhav announced that the originally planned protest on July 5 would now be converted into a celebratory public meeting or victory rally.
“The government’s imposition lost to the unity of Marathi people. Now instead of the protest March, we will now hold a victory rally and gathering. The venue and final format will be decided in consultation with all participants in the coming days,” Uddhav said after the announcement of scrapping the GRs.
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MNS chief Raj Thackeray also termed it as a victory but reacted with a stern warning.
“We believe both GRs have been cancelled permanently — and it better be. If there is any attempt to revive this through the Narendra Jadhav committee, we will not allow that committee to function in Maharashtra,” Thackeray posted on X.
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He termed it as a decisive victory for the Marathi People and said that had the July 5 march taken place, it would have been so massive and it would’ve reminded people of the days of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.
“Maybe the government got scared of the unity of Marathi people — and if it did, it should be! This fear must stay! Now the government has announced a new committee. Let me say this clearly: Whether the committee’s report comes or not – such attempts will not be tolerated again.The government must etch this into its memory permanently. We consider this decision permanently revoked, and so do the people of Maharashtra. So do not try to create confusion again through any committee report. If that happens, this committee will not be allowed to function in Maharashtra. Let the government take note,” Raj said in his post.
Addressing a press conference at his Matoshree residence in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray also launched a scathing attack on the state government, alleging that the attempt to introduce Hindi under the three-language formula was part of a “hidden agenda” by the BJP which has be now completely defeated due to strong resistance of Marathi people.
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“The BJP wanted to divide the Marathi community by creating a Marathi vs non-Marathi narrative and then pull non-Marathi votes towards themselves,” Thackeray alleged.
“But the Marathi people showed maturity. They did not fall for the trap. The movement was not against Hindi, but against imposition. And because it was about resisting imposition, the unity held.” he said.
Thackeray said the state was hoping that the protest would fracture from within but it did not and hence the government was forced to withdraw the GRs.
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“They believed the protest would splinter and that a divided Marathi voice would benefit them. But that didn’t happen. That is why the GRs had to be withdrawn,” he said.
Terming the BJP’s approach a propaganda machine, Uddhav said that the BJP has turned into a factory of lies. “They manufacture fake narratives, spread rumours, and use them to gather votes. But this time, they got a fitting reply.”
He also criticised the formation of the Narendra Jadhav committee to review the language policy. “Committee or no committee — we will not tolerate Hindi imposition. This time the GRs were rolled back. But let the government know: this issue is over. We consider the decision permanently withdrawn.”
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Calling on the people to remain vigilant, Thackeray added, “Don’t wait for another crisis. Remain alert and aware. The Marathi community’s unity and anger were visible — and they must remain. Those trying to undermine Marathi are not outsiders, but insiders who have no emotional connection with the language.”
On allegations from CM Fadnavis claiming that the three language formula was approved by Uddhav Thackeray himself when he was CM in the MVA government, Uddhav said the report cited by the government was never considered by the cabinet under him and he di not give any such approval.
“I didn’t even read the report… The report was never under consideration and I never issued any GR. This government issued the GR so it should stop spreading lies now ,” Uddhav said.
Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena (UBT) held a symbolic burning of the government resolution (GR) at Azad Maidan, with several opposition leaders joining in to register their opposition to the three languages policy.