Thackeray Cousins Hit Streets Over NEET Row, Call for Massive Mumbai March

Asserting that public anger over systemic examination failures has pushed the government onto the backfoot, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray announced a joint protest march in Mumbai on Sunday, July 26. Addressing a rare joint press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, the leaders declared that the rally aims to channel the immense angst of students and parents following the NEET paper leak controversy and recent police action against peaceful demonstrations.

The protest, titled the Tiranga Morcha, will commence at 11:30 AM from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park and proceed to the Siddhivinayak Temple. Emphasizing that the rally will strictly feature the Indian national flag rather than political banners, Raj Thackeray issued a direct warning against any attempts to disrupt the event. "We will thrash anyone who tries to disrupt our peaceful protest in Mumbai on July 26," he stated, maintaining that the movement belongs to citizens and students. Gurfateh Pirzada Joins Pratibha Ranta at Mumbai Student Protest, Reveals People Around ‘Told Him Not To Go’ (See Post).

Raj Thackeray noted that the central government has lost ground as the youth agitation has grown exponentially across the country. He added that the demand for accountability now extends beyond Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, criticizing top leadership for failing to engage directly with affected families.

Echoing these concerns, Uddhav Thackeray criticized the state and central administration's handling of the crisis. "The government is ruthless, but students are no longer afraid of anyone," Uddhav said, pointing to the resilience of youth protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and across Maharashtra. He assured that the combined political strength of their parties would shield peaceful protesters while demanding institutional reform.

The demonstration stems from a 34-day protest organized by student representatives at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, supported by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led by Abhijit Dipke. The nationwide outrage intensified following reports of police force used to disperse student crowds in the capital, leading to over 90 localized solidarity demonstrations across Maharashtra. Mumbai Police Prohibitory Orders: What Is Allowed and What Is Not From July 23 to August 6.

NEET Protest Reaches Mumbai as Raj, Uddhav Unite Against Centre

The Thackeray cousins' joint mobilization represents a significant moment in Maharashtra's political landscape, bringing both leaders together on a shared platform to address an issue affecting millions of families nationwide.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 23, 2026 01:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).