“Government Bowed to People’s Power,” Says Uddhav Thackeray, Hails Student Protest Victory
Mumbai, 27th July 2026: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday praised the nationwide student movement, describing it as a victory of patriotism over blind allegiance and asserting that the Centre was compelled to accept the protesters’ demands due to the strength of public unity.
Addressing the Tiranga Vijay Jallosh Sabha at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Thackeray said the fight against the BJP had only just begun and was aimed at safeguarding the country’s future. Referring to the recent student protests, he remarked that although no election had been won, “patriots have defeated blind followers,” adding that public movements had demonstrated their ability to make even the most powerful governments yield.
The victory gathering was held after the Centre accepted key demands of the student agitation, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray had announced a protest march from Dadar to Siddhivinayak Temple against the alleged police action on students in Delhi. Following the government’s decision, the march was replaced with the victory event at Shivaji Park.
Several senior leaders, including Raj Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, Aaditya Thackeray, Amit Thackeray, and leaders from both Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), attended the gathering.
Speaking on the issue of alleged examination paper leaks, Uddhav Thackeray claimed that the future of students had been jeopardised and referred to reports of students taking extreme steps due to the examination crisis. He alleged that the suffering of affected families was far greater than the political effort made to protect those in power and said the nationwide protests had sparked growing public dissatisfaction.
Calling for unity beyond political and social divisions, Thackeray urged citizens to come together with a shared sense of national responsibility. He also praised the role of young people, stating that their struggle would be remembered in history and encouraging them to continue standing against what he described as the arrogance of those in power.
Addressing the same event, Raj Thackeray said the student movement had shown that organised public pressure could force governments to reconsider their decisions. He argued that the protests demonstrated the power of the younger generation and maintained that governments ultimately have to bow before the collective will of the people.
Raj Thackeray also raised concerns over alleged examination irregularities and referred to cases of student suicides from several states, claiming they highlighted the need for major reforms in the country’s examination system.
