Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Thursday, 23 July held a rare joint press conference in Mumbai, jointly condemning the NDA government at the Centre over the NEET exam paper leak controversy and the police crackdown on student protesters in Delhi. The two estranged brothers — who have rarely shared a public platform in recent years — announced a joint protest march on Sunday, 26 July, marking a significant political convergence on a student-rights issue.

The March: Route and Format

Both leaders declared they will lead a large-scale, non-partisan rally in Mumbai beginning at Shivaji Park (Shivtirtha) and concluding at the Siddhivinayak Temple. Notably, the march will carry no political party flags — only the Indian National Flag will be displayed. Students, parents, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies, Opposition leaders, and concerned citizens have all been invited to participate.

Raj Thackeray: Accountability Must Reach the Top

Drawing a parallel to former Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil's resignation following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Raj Thackeray argued that political accountability over the NEET leak cannot stop at the education ministry. 'The issue has crossed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and now directly reaches Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' he stated.

Raj Thackeray also condemned what he described as the Centre's pattern of refusing dialogue with agitating groups, citing the farmers' protest, the Manipur crisis, and the Ladakh demonstrations as precedents. 'Farmers were dying earlier; now students will be forced to commit suicide. What kind of arrogance of power is this that the administration refuses to listen to anyone?' he asked. He further argued that had the government engaged with students early, the hunger strike by educator Sonam Wangchuk and subsequent agitations would not have escalated.

Promising a peaceful demonstration, Raj Thackeray warned that any attempt to infiltrate or disrupt the rally — as allegedly occurred in New Delhi — would be met with a firm response from supporters.

Uddhav Thackeray: Police Action and Judicial Delay

Uddhav Thackeray sharply criticised the police action against student protesters in Delhi, alleging that young women were beaten with nail-embedded batons and had their clothes torn. He questioned how individuals in civil attire were reportedly handed police batons to suppress the agitation — allegations that have not yet been independently verified.

Expressing frustration with the pace of judicial intervention, Uddhav Thackeray said courts appear to have time for minor matters such as stray animals and pigeons, but fail to deliver timely justice to students facing severe state pressure. Calling the current administration 'merciless,' he urged citizens and political leaders across party lines to stand in solidarity with the country's youth.

Why This Convergence Matters

The Thackeray brothers' public reunion on a shared platform is itself a significant political development. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have been politically estranged since Raj founded the MNS in 2006 after splitting from the original Shiv Sena. Their joint appearance signals that the NEET controversy has acquired enough national salience to bridge longstanding political divides in Maharashtra. This comes amid mounting pressure on the Centre, with the Supreme Court already seized of the matter and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducting a probe into the alleged leak. The 26 July march is expected to be one of the largest student-solidarity demonstrations in Mumbai this year.