Raj said, “I am sharing the stage with Uddhav Thackeray after almost 20 years. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis managed to do what Balasaheb Thackeray could not – bring myself and Uddhav together.”
He said the state government rolled back the decision on the three-language formula due to the strong unity shown by the Marathi people. “Decision on three-language formula was a precursor to planning of separating Mumbai from Maharashtra,” he added.
Backing his cousin, Uddhav said, “We won’t let the government impose Hindi on us.”
Thousands of MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) workers marched enthusiastically to the venue of the joint rally. Amid a heavy rush, hundreds of workers forced their way inside the NSCI Dome campus in Worli to listen to the Thackeray brothers.
“Supporters of both parties forcefully entered the venue by breaking down the main gate. Police later shut the gate again to avoid the repeat of the incident. A posse of police personnel has been deployed at the spot,” an official told PTI.
In Worli, the constituency of Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, several hoardings featuring Raj and Uddhav dotted the skyline. Leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have put up banners at several places, appeaing to the two brothers to remain united forever for the cause of the Marathi manoos.
