Uddhav Thackeray leads Ram Raksha protest in Nagpur, hits back at Fadnavis
Synopsis
Uddhav Thackeray took the Ram Raksha fight directly to Devendra Fadnavis's home turf in Nagpur — publicly reciting the very hymn the CM had dared him to chant — and framed the Ayodhya temple theft as proof that the BJP's Hindutva is performance, not devotion. It is a calculated bid to reclaim the religious identity that has defined Shiv Sena for decades.
Key Takeaways
Uddhav Thackeray led the Ram Raksha Nagar protest in Nagpur on 18 July , on CM Devendra Fadnavis 's home turf.
Thackeray publicly recited the Ram Raksha Stotra , directly countering Fadnavis's taunt about his religious knowledge.
He accused the BJP of exploiting Hindutva for political gain and urged protests across Vidarbha villages.
Senior leaders Sanjay Raut , Aaditya Thackeray , Chandrakant Khaire , and Ambadas Danve attended the rally.
Thackeray announced a Mumbai agitation on Sunday over the NEET scam and in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk .
He alleged 92 lakh women were excluded from the Ladki Bahin Yojana and attacked the Mahayuti government over the delayed crop loan waiver.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday, 18 July led the Ram Raksha Nagar demonstration in Nagpur — Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's home turf — over the alleged theft at the Ayodhya temple, delivering a pointed counter to Fadnavis, who had recently questioned whether Thackeray even knew the sacred Ram Raksha Stotra. Thackeray publicly recited the hymn at the rally, turning the taunt into a political moment.
Thackeray's Direct Challenge to Fadnavis
Addressing the crowd, Thackeray drew a sharp distinction between ritual recitation and active defence of the deity's sanctity. “Reciting the Ram Raksha might be your job, but protecting Lord Ram is our duty. We are the true Ram Rakshaks. You have no genuine devotion in your heart, yet you chant His name,” he said.
He added that it pained him that even after the grand temple had been built at Ayodhya — a project he credited to repeated calls by Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray — a fresh crusade was now needed to protect it from what he described as corruption and theft.
BJP Targeted on Hindutva Turf
Thackeray accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting Hindutva for electoral gain rather than genuine religious commitment. He appealed to people across party lines to expose what he called the BJP's hypocrisy and the alleged theft at the Ayodhya temple.
He urged Shiv Sainiks to carry the protest into their villages, with particular emphasis on Vidarbha, where the BJP commands a strong seat count. Thackeray announced he would personally tour key cities to lead the agitation. Senior leaders including Sanjay Raut, Chandrakant Khaire, Aaditya Thackeray, and Ambadas Danve were present at the rally.
Broader Grievances: NEET, Wangchuk, and Welfare Schemes
Thackeray broadened his attack to include the Central Government, raising the case of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, whom he alleged was dragged away by police despite fasting peacefully for 20 days. He also cited an ink-throwing incident targeting activist Abhijit Dipke, saying “humanity had vanished from the government.”
He announced a follow-up agitation in Mumbai on Sunday against the NEET scam and in solidarity with Wangchuk and Dipke, calling on citizens across political affiliations to participate given the stakes for the country's youth.
Attacks on Mahayuti Government's Welfare Record
Thackeray also sharply criticised the Mahayuti government for delaying the crop loan waiver scheme. He alleged that 92 lakh women had been excluded from the Ladki Bahin Yojana and that a scheme to distribute sarees to women had been shut down due to lack of funds — charges that are likely to resonate in rural Maharashtra.
The Ram Raksha agitation marks a significant escalation by the UBT faction as it seeks to challenge the BJP on its core ideological ground of Hindutva ahead of upcoming political contests in Maharashtra.
Point of View
Where the BJP holds the credit, to temple protection, where the alleged theft creates a vulnerability. Whether the UBT can sustain this religious-political counter-narrative beyond the rally circuit, and translate it into electoral ground in Vidarbha, is the real question mainstream coverage is not yet asking.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Uddhav Thackeray hold the Ram Raksha Nagar protest in Nagpur?
Thackeray chose Nagpur — Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's home constituency — to directly challenge the BJP on its Hindutva credentials over the alleged theft at the Ayodhya temple. The protest also served as a rebuttal to Fadnavis's recent taunt questioning whether Thackeray knew the Ram Raksha Stotra, which Thackeray publicly recited at the rally.
What did Uddhav Thackeray say about protecting Lord Ram?
Thackeray argued that the true test of a devotee is not ritual recitation but active defence of the deity's sanctity. He said, 'Reciting the Ram Raksha might be your job, but protecting Lord Ram is our duty,' positioning the UBT faction as the 'true Ram Rakshaks' against what he called the BJP's politically motivated religiosity.
Who attended the Ram Raksha Nagar rally with Uddhav Thackeray?
Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut, Chandrakant Khaire, Aaditya Thackeray, and Ambadas Danve were present at the Nagpur demonstration on 18 July.
What other issues did Thackeray raise at the Nagpur protest?
Beyond the Ayodhya temple theft, Thackeray raised the NEET scam, the police action against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, an ink-throwing incident targeting activist Abhijit Dipke, the exclusion of 92 lakh women from the Ladki Bahin Yojana, and the Mahayuti government's delay in implementing the crop loan waiver scheme.
What agitation did Thackeray announce after the Nagpur rally?
Thackeray announced a follow-up protest in Mumbai on Sunday covering the NEET scam and in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk and Abhijit Dipke. He also called on Shiv Sainiks to hold demonstrations in their villages, particularly across Vidarbha, and said he would personally lead protests in key cities.
