Fadnavis dares Uddhav to recite Ram Raksha Stotra, calls him 'frustrated'
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis publicly dared Uddhav Thackeray to recite the Ram Raksha Stotra, calling his planned Nagpur 'Ram Raksha' agitation hollow. With Deputy CM Eknath Shinde piling on and Fadnavis also firing at Rahul Gandhi over exam leaks, Tuesday's press remarks amounted to a coordinated ruling-coalition offensive against the opposition on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis challenged Uddhav Thackeray on 14 July to recite at least two pages of the Ram Raksha Stotra , questioning his credentials to lead a 'Ram Raksha' agitation.
Thackeray has announced a protest in Nagpur on 18 July over alleged irregularities in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir construction.
Fadnavis called Thackeray 'dejected, disappointed, and frustrated' over his support for activist Sonam Wangchuk .
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde accused Shiv Sena-UBT of opportunistically backing anyone who protests against the government.
Fadnavis countered Rahul Gandhi's social media posts on exam paper leaks, saying Maharashtra police caught the culprits — part of an interstate gang — before the exam took place.
The state's farmer loan waiver scheme was expanded to cover previously ineligible farmers, with relief up to ₹2 lakh and the scrapping of a prior dues-clearance condition.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, 14 July issued a pointed challenge to Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, demanding he recite — or at minimum read — two pages of the Ram Raksha Stotra, a sacred hymn dedicated to Lord Ram. The remarks came in direct response to Thackeray's announcement of a 'Ram Raksha' agitation planned for Nagpur on 18 July, aimed at spotlighting alleged irregularities in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir construction.
The Ram Raksha Challenge
Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis questioned Thackeray's credentials to lead a protest invoking Lord Ram's name. 'My only expectation is that Uddhav Thackeray should read at least two pages of the Ram Raksha. It is not right to stage political agitations in the name of Lord Ram. Even last time, Thackeray could not read the Ram Raksha. If he is ready, I am willing to recite it with him. I know the entire Ram Raksha by heart,' the Chief Minister said.
Fadnavis added: 'Even if one doesn't know it by heart, they should at least be able to read it. What kind of protest is this where you launch a Ram Raksha agitation but cannot even read the hymn?' The challenge escalates a political confrontation that has been simmering since Thackeray organised a similar protest in Mumbai earlier this month.
Sonam Wangchuk Row
Fadnavis also took aim at Thackeray's defence of activist Sonam Wangchuk. Thackeray had recently stated that Wangchuk's intellect should be utilised for the country, criticising the Union government for allegedly labelling such individuals as traitors. Thackeray also claimed he personally called Wangchuk to express concern over his deteriorating health.
Responding sharply, Fadnavis labelled Thackeray a 'hopeless and frustrated' figure. 'Uddhav Thackeray is a dejected, disappointed, and frustrated person. His political existence is fading. Whether it is Sonam Wangchuk or any other issue, he only speaks out of sheer frustration,' the Chief Minister said.
Eknath Shinde Joins the Attack
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also weighed in, characterising Thackeray's positions as belated political opportunism. 'This is wisdom dawning late on Uddhav Thackeray,' Shinde remarked. He further argued that the Shiv Sena-UBT faction reflexively backs anyone protesting against the government. 'Their party's situation is like running to extinguish a fire on a distant mountain while their own house is burning. They are just looking for a way to bake their own political bread using these protests,' Shinde said.
Fadnavis on Rahul Gandhi's Exam Leak Posts
Separately, Fadnavis countered Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's posts on social media platform X regarding exam paper leaks. The Chief Minister maintained that the Maharashtra government and police acted proactively, apprehending the culprits before the exam took place — which is why it was postponed.
'I don't know if Rahul Gandhi tweeted this from India or abroad, as he is often travelling. The arrested criminals turned out to be part of an interstate gang operating in other states as well. In fact, our government's timely action saved examination papers in other states from being leaked,' Fadnavis asserted, adding that the next exams would be conducted properly with dates to be announced soon.
Farmer Loan Waiver Expansion
Fadnavis also announced a significant expansion of the state's loan waiver scheme, describing it as a historic first for Maharashtra's farmers. Farmers previously deemed ineligible under consecutive waiver schemes will now be eligible for relief of up to ₹50,000. Following a delegation led by ruling party MLA Randhir Savarkar, the state government also decided to extend the debt waiver benefit up to ₹2 lakh for eligible farmers, and completely scrapped the earlier mandatory condition requiring farmers to clear specific dues from 2026–27 to receive incentive benefits.
The ruling coalition's multi-front offensive — targeting Thackeray on religious credibility, political relevance, and policy consistency — signals an intensifying battle ahead of the Nagpur protest on 18 July.
Point of View
A classic deflection. Notably, neither Fadnavis nor Shinde addressed the specific irregularities in the Ram Mandir construction that Thackeray's agitation is meant to highlight. The farmer loan waiver expansion, tucked into the same press interaction, suggests the government is simultaneously managing rural discontent — a reminder that the political theatre in Mumbai and Nagpur plays out against a backdrop of real economic pressure in Maharashtra's hinterland.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Fadnavis challenge Uddhav Thackeray to read the Ram Raksha Stotra?
Fadnavis issued the challenge to question Thackeray's religious credentials after Thackeray announced a 'Ram Raksha' agitation in Nagpur on 18 July over alleged irregularities in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir construction. Fadnavis argued it was inappropriate to invoke Lord Ram's name for political protests, especially if one cannot recite the associated hymn.
What is the Ram Raksha Stotra?
The Ram Raksha Stotra is a sacred Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Ram, widely recited by devotees in Maharashtra and across India. Fadnavis claimed he knows the entire hymn by heart and offered to recite it alongside Thackeray.
What did Fadnavis say about Sonam Wangchuk?
Fadnavis dismissed Thackeray's support for activist Sonam Wangchuk, calling Thackeray 'dejected, disappointed, and frustrated' and saying his political existence is fading. Thackeray had claimed he called Wangchuk over health concerns and criticised the Union government's treatment of him.
How did Fadnavis respond to Rahul Gandhi's posts on exam paper leaks?
Fadnavis said the Maharashtra government and police acted proactively, catching the culprits before the exam took place, which is why it was postponed. He noted the arrested individuals were part of an interstate gang and said the government's timely action also prevented leaks in other states.
What changes were announced to Maharashtra's farmer loan waiver scheme?
Fadnavis announced that farmers previously deemed ineligible under consecutive waiver schemes will now qualify for relief up to ₹50,000, and that the debt waiver benefit has been extended to ₹2 lakh for eligible farmers. The earlier mandatory condition requiring farmers to clear dues from 2026–27 to receive incentive benefits has been completely scrapped.
