Thackeray Brothers, Raj and Uddhav, Reunite To Oppose 'Hindi Imposition' In Maharashtra Schools

The estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have joined forces against the state government’s three-language policy in schools, which the Opposition is terming as "imposition of Hindi".

Both Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) have decided to hold a combined protest march on July 5 rather than a separate one as planned earlier.

The rescheduling of Raj's protest to July 5 is being seen as a gesture of reconciliation, possibly hinting at a larger political move between the Thackerays.

जय महाराष्ट्र!

"There will be a single and united march against compulsory Hindi in Maharashtra schools. Thackeray is the brand!"
⁦@Dev_Fadnavis⁩
⁦@AmitShah⁩ pic.twitter.com/tPv6q15Hwv

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 27, 2025

They will hold a rally from Girgaon Chowpatty to Azad Maidan on July 5. MNS chief had earlier announced a protest for July 6. The date clashed with Ashadhi Ekadashi, a day of religious significance in Maharashtra.

सस्नेह जय महाराष्ट्र,
आज सकाळी आपल्या मराठीसाठी, महाराष्ट्रासाठी आणि मराठी माणसासाठी येत्या ६ जुलैला मोर्च्याची घोषणा केली होती. त्यात थोडा बदल आहे, हा मोर्चा रविवार ६ जुलैच्या ऐवजी, ५ जुलै शनिवारी सकाळी १० वाजता असणार आहे. बाकी ठिकाण आणि इतर सर्व तपशील तसेच असणार आहेत. त्यामुळे… pic.twitter.com/BUN1Av0GSK

— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) June 26, 2025

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray and the coordination committee — comprising Marathi writers, poets, educators and language experts — had declared protest on July 7. Participants in the UBT protest were supposed to gather at Hutatma Chowk and march to Azad Maidan.

UddhavSaheb Thackeray #LIVE | पत्रकार परिषद | मातोश्री, मुंबई https://t.co/8Q3EYxaJD1

— Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) June 26, 2025

In another development, Maharashtra's School Education Minister Dada Bhuse met Raj Thackeray. During the meeting, he explained the state’s rationale behind the three-language policy.

Dada Bhuse met Raj Thackeray to end Raj Thackeray's opposition. However, after the meeting, Dada Bhuse clarified that Raj Thackeray is still firm on his stand. Now Raj Thackeray has also clarified his stand and has given a big warning to the government against Hindi compulsion.

“We presented the government’s stand on the education policy, but Rajsaheb is firm on his views,” Bhuse told the media afterwards.

This move comes amid the Devendra Fadnavis government's decision to introduce Hindi as an optional third language from Classes 1 to 5.

Earlier, both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena slammed Fadnavis's move, calling it an imposition of a "language emergency" and an attempt to erase "Marathi-ness."

Separately, Uddhav Thackeray had backed a July 7 march initiated by the Tribhasha Sutra (Three language formula) Anti-Mumbai Coordination Committee. "We will not allow the imposition of Hindi as a third language in Marathi and English schools for Classes 1 to 5 in Maharashtra. This is not just an educational issue; it is cultural encroachment."