Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday hailed students for their nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, saying the agitation marked the beginning of a larger fight against the BJP and proved that "votes can be stolen, but not people".
"Deshbhakt have defeated andhbhakt", he said addressing a 'Tiranga' rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai where a massive crowd of youth, mostly college students, waving the national flag and holding posters of the Constitution, gathered to "celebrate" the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
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Despite light rains since morning, the youth in raincoats and under umbrellas carried posters of B R Ambedkar, the chief architect of India's Constitution, along with creative social media memes that had gone viral during the nationwide protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Since the police action on students in Delhi on July 22, protests were seen in different parts of Maharashtra, with Shivaji Park being the centre point of gatherings in Mumbai.
During the rally on Sunday, Uddhav's cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray led a one-minute silence at the venue in memory of 21 students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy in May.
Uddhav Thackeray said the youth had written "a golden chapter" in India's democratic history through their unity and their agitation evolved into a nationwide movement.
"People ask us why we are talking about elections when they are still three years away. The answer is simple. PM Modi has now realised that votes can be stolen, but not people," he said.
No election has been won today. "Patriots" (deshbhakt) have defeated "blind followers" (andhbhakt). This is the beginning of a bigger struggle. This is a fight between the BJP and India, the former Maharashtra chief minister asserted.
"I want to tell PM Modi that it is time to focus on the country. Your ministers are busy breaking political parties. Tell them to start working for the nation," he said.
Also Read: Tiranga march will be non-political, with no slogans hailing leaders: Raj Thackeray
Pradhan resigned on Saturday, following which the CJP called off its 36-day agitation that galvanised lakhs of people over irregularities in exams and the NEET paper leak.
Uddhav Thackeray also asked why Pradhan had not been removed from the Union cabinet earlier.
"I want to ask PM Modi - how painful was it to remove your favourite Dharmendra from the cabinet? Was that pain greater than what the families of the students suffered when their children took their own lives? I cannot forget that pain, and I will never forget it," he said.
Urging the youth to keep up the momentum, Uddhav Thackeray said, "Do not let this awakening fade away. Do not tolerate the arrogance of those in power. You have shown the strength of the people. Do not let anyone weaken this country again."
Further targeting the government, he claimed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman doesn't speak about the falling rupee or rising inflation, but explains the "benefits" of a paper leak.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh should be protecting the country's borders, but is defending Pradhan, he said. In a jibe at Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, he said the "khadda" (potholes) minister is talking about ethanol (E20 petrol). This is definitely the next issue, he added.
Raj Thackeray said the success of students' protest proved Gen Z can challenge the government.
He thanked the Mumbai Police for maintaining order during the programme and said the country had seen "the difference between the Maharashtra Police and the Delhi Police," a reference to the thrashing of protesters in the national capital.
A group of participants in the gathering at Shivaji Park said they came to show solidarity with the protesters. This is a victory of democracy, they said.
Another student said she came to pay tribute to "21 NEET aspirants" who had committed suicide.
A young boy said one resignation is not enough and that a complete overhaul of the education system is necessary. The minister has resigned, but the government doesn't want to give us credit for our victory, he said.
Later, Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray said Mumbai has spoken in one voice with 'tiranga' (tricolour) in their hands.
"The dictator has been shaken. This is the power of the youth. They need not be told to do anything. They know what they want. The response of Mumbai has been tremendous," he told reporters.
A lot of people are upset with how ethanol (E20 petrol) has been forced upon them, he said, adding that youth will keep asking questions in new India, which the government is not used to answering.
"Asking questions to the government is not being anti-India. All FIRs against protesters should be withdrawn. The countdown has begun for this government," he added.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who also participated in the gathering, said power and arrogance have to bow before "people's power". The youth will now have to rise against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and delimitation (referred to the proposed delimitation bill), he said.
"The youth power led a peaceful struggle against the system unitedly," he added.
