Nagpur, July 18, 2026
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday led the Ram Raksha Nagar protest over the Ayodhya temple theft and delivered a direct rebuttal to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had recently mocked Thackeray’s religious credentials by questioning if he even knew the sacred hymn.
Thackeray said that protecting Ram is the duty of true devotees, arguing that the real test of a devotee is not just chanting prayers but actively defending the deity’s sanctity against corruption.
Addressing the gathering in CM Fadnavis’s home turf, Thackeray took a sharp dig at the CM’s challenge regarding the recitation of the Ram Raksha.
He said it pained him that even after the grand temple had been built, a crusade was needed to protect it.
“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 criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for using Hindutva for political gains and appealed to people across political parties to expose its hypocrisy and theft in the Ayodhya temple, which was built after repeated calls by Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
He urged Shiv Sainiks to hold protests in their villages, especially in Vidarbha, where the BJP wins maximum seats. He announced he would personally visit key cities to lead the protest.
The ‘Ram Raksha’ agitation signals a major escalation by the UBT faction as they look to corner the BJP on its core ideological turf of Hindutva ahead of upcoming political battles in Maharashtra. The demonstration, led by Thackeray, saw senior leaders including Sanjay Raut, Chandrakant Khaire, Aaditya Thackeray and Ambadas Danve in attendance. During the protest, Thackeray publicly recited the Ram Raksha Stotra.
Expanding his critique to the Central Government, Thackeray raised the issue of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s protest and the police action against demonstrators. He alleged Wangchuk was dragged away despite fasting peacefully for 20 days.
He also referred to ink being thrown at activist Abhijit Dipke, saying humanity had vanished from the government.
Thackeray announced he would lead an agitation in Mumbai on Sunday against the NEET scam and to support Wangchuk and Dipke, urging people from across political parties to participate as the issue concerned the future of the youth.
He sharply criticised the Mahayuti government for delaying the crop loan waiver scheme and attacked the state government for excluding 92 lakh women from the Ladki Bahin Yojana and closing a scheme to distribute sarees to women for want of funds.(Agency)
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