Raj Thackeray Reschedules Anti-Hindi March to July 5; Opposition Grows Over Hindi in Primary Education

Mumbai, 26th June 2025: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has announced a change in the date of his proposed protest march against the state government’s decision to introduce Hindi from Class 1. The march, originally scheduled for Sunday, July 6, will now be held on Saturday, July 5 at 10 am, starting from Girgaon Chowpatty, Mumbai. The venue and other details of the rally remain unchanged.

Thackeray announced the rescheduling through a social media post on Thursday, stating: “This morning, I had announced a march for our Marathi, Maharashtra and Marathi people on July 6. There is a slight change — this march will now be held on Saturday, July 5 at 10 am instead of Sunday. The rest of the venue and all other details will be the same. Jai Maharashtra.”
Political Opposition Mounts
The protest comes amid growing political opposition to the state’s decision to introduce Hindi as a compulsory subject from the first standard. During a press conference, Raj Thackeray expressed strong disagreement with the government’s policy despite a meeting with State Education Minister Dada Bhuse.

“I do not accept the government’s position. We will not allow Hindi power to dominate our education system from the start,” said Thackeray. “The march will not feature any political flags — it will be a people’s movement for the Marathi language. Only Marathi will be the agenda.”

Call for Statewide Participation
Thackeray further said that the upcoming march would be a significant show of unity among the Marathi-speaking population. “The full strength of Maharashtra will be seen at Girgaon Chowpatty. I want to see who stands with the cause and who chooses to stay away. We will engage with educationists, linguists, students, and parents to make this a mass movement.”

He also hinted at discussions with other political parties, stating that the cause of Marathi should rise above all political differences. “Let the government see what Maharashtra truly feels about this imposition. This isn’t just a protest — it’s a message that Maharashtra is bigger than any dispute or political fight,” Thackeray concluded.