Speaking at the Rangaswar auditorium inside Mumbai's Y. B. Chavan Centre on Saturday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray articulated fierce opposition to the prevailing political dispensation. He openly backed the call for regime change previously voiced by Prashant Bhushan. Emphasising the erosion of public liberties, Thackeray asserted that whenever an administration attempts to snatch away citizens' constitutional right to voice dissent and conduct peaceful demonstrations through the ballot, standing up to dislodge such a government becomes completely justified.
Concerns Raised Over Heavy Policing in the National Capital
Uddhav Thackeray took strong exception to the recent police crackdown on demonstrators in Delhi, questioning the motives behind such widespread deployment. He observed that anyone attempting to question the ruling authorities is promptly branded anti-national. Ridiculing the sight of thousands of police personnel deployed across the national capital, he asked sarcastically whether such a large force was called in to play Dandiya during the festival of Navratri. In his view, when a ruling establishment depends on coercion to throttle dissent, peaceful opposition against that regime becomes a public obligation.
Endorsing the Demand for Democratic Change
Revisiting the regime change remarks articulated by Prashant Bhushan, Thackeray affirmed that the issue goes to the very core of public governance. Defining the objective of his political struggle, he stated,
"Yes, we stand for a change of regime."He insisted that if lawful channels of protest and electoral expression are systematically blocked, citizens and political forces are left with no choice but to work towards dethroning the regime, adding that there is nothing unlawful or questionable about harbouring such an ambition.
Comparing Democratic Protection to Lifting Govardhan Hill
Uddhav Thackeray urged civil society and opposition forces to build a collective front, invoking the metaphor of Govardhan hill. He stated that safeguarding democratic institutions is beyond the capacity of a single person, single pen, or isolated organization. Just as every individual contributed by offering their finger, hand, or support to lift Mount Govardhan, every segment of the populace must participate in defending democratic values. He cautioned that failure to unite in this effort would lead to universal ruin, underscoring collective action as the primary guiding principle of this movement.
Continued Campaigning Against the Ruling Setup
This forceful address builds upon an existing wave of opposition mobilised by Thackeray's political faction. In Maharashtra, his party recently initiated an aggressive public campaign against the Fadnavis administration under the slogan 'Tumse Na Ho Payega'. Thackeray’s latest remarks signify an effort to broaden that regional opposition into a unified national discourse aimed at confronting shrinking civic freedoms and government excess.
