Uddhav Thackeray slams Centre over NEET protest crackdown, calls it dictatorship
Synopsis
Uddhav Thackeray did not just visit a protest — he used the NEET agitation at Jantar Mantar to mount a coordinated opposition offensive, calling the Centre's crackdown 'dictatorship', condemning alleged police action against young girls, and personally calling Rahul Gandhi to push for a unified parliamentary front. With Kejriwal also in the room, the NEET crisis is fast becoming the opposition's primary rallying point.
Key Takeaways
Uddhav Thackeray visited the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar on 22 July against the NEET paper leak and held a press conference condemning the Centre.
Thackeray called the government's response 'dictatorship', alleging it suppressed democratic voices instead of engaging in dialogue.
He condemned alleged police action against women and girls as young as 9 to 10 years old at the protest site.
Thackeray spoke by phone with Rahul Gandhi and called for a unified opposition front in Parliament on the NEET issue.
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal met Thackeray and alleged that NEET paper leak masterminds have not been chargesheeted, allowing them to secure bail.
Opposition parties are signalling coordinated parliamentary action on the 2024 NEET examination controversy.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday, 22 July launched a sharp attack on the NDA government at the Centre after visiting the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which was held against the NEET examination paper leak. Thackeray accused the administration of suppressing democratic dissent rather than engaging in dialogue with students and youth agitators.
Thackeray's Charges Against the Centre
Addressing a press conference, Thackeray made clear that his backing of the protest predated his visit. 'I went to meet Abhijeet Dipke and the youths participating in the agitation. My support for this protest is not from yesterday — it has been there since day one. Had the government engaged in dialogue right at the beginning, this situation would not have escalated to this point,' he said.
He went further, drawing a stark contrast with what he described as the government's current posture. 'The government is acting with extreme cruelty. This is not democracy. People are now saying that even the British were better than this regime. Power has gone to the heads of those in office today, but it won't take long for the public to bring them back to reality,' Thackeray declared.
Police Action Against Women and Students Condemned
Thackeray expressed strong indignation over reported police high-handedness against students and female protesters at the demonstration. He alleged that young girls, some as young as 9 to 10 years old, were treated in a manner he described as contrary to cultural values. 'The manner in which 9 to 10-year-old girls and women were treated is certainly not part of Hindu culture,' he said, questioning whether the government prioritised one individual over the public at large.
He also defended the protesters' right to demand ministerial accountability. 'Demanding the resignation of a minister is a legitimate right in a democracy. What is wrong with that?' he asked. Thackeray urged the Centre to abandon its hardline stance and initiate immediate, meaningful dialogue with the agitators.
Historical Parallels and Democratic Principles
Drawing on historical precedent, Thackeray referenced major protest movements under the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and social activist Anna Hazare, arguing that past administrations chose communication over confrontation. He contended that had the government held talks with key figures such as Abhijeet Dipke and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from the outset, the agitation would not have intensified. 'Forcing one's opinion on people and refusing to hear their voices is not democracy — it is dictatorship,' he remarked.
Opposition Coordination: Calls to Rahul Gandhi and Meeting with Kejriwal
Before departing for Mumbai, Thackeray spoke by phone with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, following high-profile political developments in the capital. The conversation covered Gandhi's recent demonstration outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, during which police reportedly detained Gandhi and removed him from the site, resulting in injuries. Late the previous night, Sonia Gandhi visited the police station, after which both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were released, according to reports.
Thackeray also discussed the broader opposition demonstrations with Gandhi and stressed the need for a unified parliamentary front on the NEET paper leak. He told Gandhi that the opposition must firmly stand behind the affected students.
Earlier on Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Thackeray to discuss the ongoing protests and other national concerns. At a joint press conference following the meeting, Kejriwal criticised the handling of the 2024 NEET paper leak. 'The masterminds behind the 2024 NEET paper leak have not been charged in a timely manner. Investigating agencies are failing to file chargesheets against the culprits, enabling them to secure automatic bail. How can the government claim it is reforming the examination system when the real perpetrators are allowed to walk free?' Kejriwal said.
What Comes Next
The political temperature around the NEET controversy continues to rise, with opposition parties signalling a coordinated push in Parliament. Whether the Centre moves toward dialogue with protest leaders or holds its current position will determine how the standoff evolves in the days ahead.
Point of View
Rivals in Maharashtra politics, appeared at a joint press conference signals how potent the issue has become as a unifying wedge. What mainstream coverage underplays is the accountability gap Kejriwal identified: if chargesheets are not filed in time, accused individuals walk free on default bail — a systemic flaw that the government has yet to address publicly. The Centre's silence on dialogue, if it continues, hands the opposition a readymade narrative heading into the budget session.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Uddhav Thackeray visit the Jantar Mantar protest?
Thackeray visited the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 22 July to express solidarity with students agitating against the 2024 NEET examination paper leak. He stated that his support for the protest had been there 'since day one' and used the visit to demand that the Centre open dialogue with the demonstrators.
What did Thackeray mean by calling the government's response 'dictatorship'?
Thackeray used the term to criticise the Centre's alleged refusal to engage in dialogue with protesters and its reported use of police force against students and women at the demonstration. He argued that suppressing dissent and refusing to hear citizens' grievances is antithetical to democratic principles.
What was the alleged police action that Thackeray condemned?
Thackeray alleged that police acted with high-handedness against female protesters and girls as young as 9 to 10 years old at the Jantar Mantar demonstration. He described the treatment as unacceptable and contrary to cultural values, though the specific incidents he referenced were not independently verified in the source.
What did Arvind Kejriwal say about the NEET paper leak?
At a joint press conference with Thackeray, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the masterminds behind the 2024 NEET paper leak had not been chargesheeted in time, allowing them to secure automatic bail. He questioned how the government could claim to be reforming the examination system while the accused remained free.
How are opposition parties coordinating on the NEET issue?
Thackeray spoke by phone with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on 22 July and called for a unified opposition front in Parliament on the NEET paper leak. The meeting between Thackeray and Kejriwal — parties that compete in Maharashtra — signals a broader effort to coordinate parliamentary pressure on the Centre over the examination controversy.
