'Modi realised only votes can be stolen, not people': Uddhav, Raj Thackeray lead joint 'Tiranga' march in Mumbai

Security has been tightened and elaborate traffic arrangements put in place around Mumbai's Shivaji Park, where Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray are addressing a joint rally on Sunday.

A large number of young people, many carrying the national flag and posters of the Constitution, began gathering at the venue from Sunday morning despite intermittent rain.

Addressing the crowd, Uddhav Thackeray hailed the student movement, saying "the youth have written a golden chapter in India's history," 

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Uddhav said the ruling party was already preparing for elections despite having three years left in its term.

"People ask us why we are talking about elections when they are still three years away. The answer is simple. Modi has now realised that votes can be stolen, but not people," he said.

The former Maharashtra chief minister also accused the Modi government of prioritising political defections over governance, in an apparent reference to several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs switching to the Eknath Shinde-led faction.

"I want to tell Prime Minister Modi that it is time to focus on the country. Your ministers are busy breaking political parties. Tell them to start working for the nation," Uddhav said.

The Sena (UBT) chief urged the youth to keep up the momentum and termed the NEET protest just a beginning. "This is the beginning of a bigger struggle. This is a fight between the BJP and India," he asserted.

Uddhav also criticised the Centre over a range of issues including rising inflation and the E20 fuel policy.

Earlier, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray paid tribute to NEET aspirants who died by suicide.

The joint 'Tiranga' march was organised in support of the nationwide student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. Although the protests were called off on Saturday following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the two parties decided to go ahead with the march, saying it was meant to celebrate the strength and unity of the youth.

"Tomorrow's march is on. It is an important step. Many people have shown their willingness. Tomorrow we will show the strength of the Yuva Shakti," Uddhav had said on Saturday evening.

He had earlier visited Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to express support for the student movement spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).

Raj Thackeray had also said the gathering at Shivaji Park would celebrate the success of the youth-led agitation.

"Tomorrow at Shivaji Park, we will come to celebrate the victory of the youngsters. They brought the government back on the ground. We'll be there to celebrate," he had said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray had urged people to attend the rally, calling it an opportunity not only to celebrate the movement's success but also to demand accountability for the police action against student protesters.

"Questions will be asked. Accountability will be asked for, and for that, we need to all come together, celebrate the moment, and yet ask further questions of who ordered the lathi charge on students and why atrocities were committed against them if the government always knew it was in the wrong," he said in a video message posted on X.

Pradhan resigned on Saturday, after which the CJP called off its 36-day agitation over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak. The movement had drawn widespread participation from students and supporters across the country.