Thackeray brothers call for march in Mumbai on July 26 over NEET paper leak
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray have announced a morcha in Mumbai on July 26 over the
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray have announced a morcha in Mumbai on July 26 over the alleged police action against student protesters and the NEET paper leak. The two leaders said the march had been called to convey the 'angst' of students and their parents as protests over the issue continue. At a joint press conference, the two said the protest would begin at Shivaji Park and end at the Siddhivinayak temple, where they would offer prayers. They also said no political flags would be displayed during the morcha. Read Full Story Uddhav Thackeray said he had spoken to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and that Maharashtra Congress leaders would join the protest. Sena (UBT) and Congress are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state. He said the government was 'ruthless' but students were no longer afraid. "Will the Prime Minister take responsibility for policemen who assaulted students and tore the clothes of women protesters? People want to express years of pent-up anger, and we are providing an outlet," he said.
He also said the anger among people was no longer limited to the NEET paper leak, but reflected resentment that had built up over the years, and claimed the government was behaving cruelly. Raj said the morcha would start from Shivaji Park in Dadar and end at the Siddhivinayak temple in Prabhadevi. He said they would pray to Lord Ganesh there to 'instil some sense in the government'. He also said the government had gone on the back foot as the students' agitation had grown on a large scale. 'We will thrash anyone who tries to disrupt our peaceful protest in Mumbai on July 26,' he said. Mumbai has been seeing protests in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party-led students' agitation in Delhi. On Monday, Delhi Police used tear gas and lathis on Parliament Street as thousands of CJP protesters marched towards Parliament to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak. The CJP has accused security personnel of using excessive force during its 'Sansad Chalo' march and alleged that several students were injured.
Uddhav Thackeray also criticised Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for declining the urgent listing of a plea against police action on students in Delhi and for asking the petitioner 'not to waste time'. Referring to allegations by protesters, he said, "Women protesters said their clothes were torn. Students said they were beaten up with sticks with rusted nails." He added, "The judiciary has the time to look into the issues related to dogs and cats. But they do not have the time to look at 'cockroaches' (youth). The condition of the judiciary is like Droupadi seeking justice from Dhritarashtra." Raj said the issue had moved beyond the original demand for Pradhan's resignation. "It all started with the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, but after students were brutally beaten, the issue is no longer restricted to him and has extended to the prime minister," he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in a post that the welfare of the country's youth was the top priority of his government and that anyone trying to harm their future would not be spared.
The BriefWire