Mumbai, July 20, 2026
The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Monday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of committing an “assault on Indian democracy, freedom, and the Constitution”.
In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the party focused on two key developments over the past two days: the early morning police action against activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar and the Lok Sabha Speaker’s recognition of rebel factions from the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress.
According to the editorial, activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed by Delhi Police from Jantar Mantar, where he had been on the 20th day of a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the NEET paper leak controversy. The editorial characterised the police action as a “cowardly night operation”, stating that armed police entered the protest site after midnight like “thieves to drag away an exhausted activist who was unable to resist”.
It drew comparisons between the crackdown and an anti-terrorist combing operation, arguing that it highlighted the government’s fear of growing public support for Wangchuk.
The editorial said that despite being admitted to the hospital, Wangchuk is continuing his protest from the intensive care unit (ICU). The editorial referred to a handwritten message sent by Wangchuk to the citizens of India, “This is the Second Freedom Movement. A Fear-Free India, an Injustice-Free India!”
The editorial warned that the activist’s movement would continue to spread across the country despite government suppression.
Further, the Thackeray camp alleged that under cover of darkness, the Speaker recognised ‘defector’ factions from the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress in direct violation of the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which does not grant recognition to party splits.
The editorial alleged that six MPs elected under the Shiv Sena’s ‘Flaming Torch’ (Mashal) symbol were “bought for Rs 50 crore each by the Eknath Shinde faction” before seeking a merger, which was subsequently approved by the Speaker. The editorial termed this decision a direct assault on parliamentary integrity and constitutional norms.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena claimed that the Modi government survives entirely on “falsehoods, repression, and gunpoint threats”. Much like the NEET exam scam, “PM Modi and his people won the election through widespread electoral malpractices. It is no longer hidden that these leaders came to power by burning the pyres of freedom and democracy”.
“Under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, no form of party splitting is recognised. Still, BJP engineers splits in parties daily to build new outfits, and the Speaker continues to legitimise these traitorous groups. This ongoing destruction of freedom, democracy, and the Constitution by the Modi government must now be exposed on the global stage,” remarked the editorial.
The editorial asserted that the actions against the Shiv Sena, TMC, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demonstrate an attempt to suppress opposition voices through authority and intimidation.
The editorial called for bringing the Modi government’s actions regarding Indian democracy and constitutional violations before the international community. “Just as there is no forgiveness for the thieves of the Ram Temple, there will be no forgiveness for those who legitimise traitors,” it said.(Agency)
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