The Thackeray family, which split in 2005 when Raj Thackeray started his own party, might see a surprising reconciliation. The Thackeray cousins, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, have indicated a possible reunion amid the concern over alleged threats to Marathi identity and culture.
In two different events, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, leaders of MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), emphasised that Maharashtra's culture and language should come before political rivalry.
What Did Raj Thackeray Say?
During a podcast with actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, when asked about a possible reunion between the cousins, Raj Thackeray said that the differences between him and his cousins are proving detrimental to Maharashtra's interests.
"The disputes and fights between Uddhav and me are minor – Maharashtra is much bigger than all that. These differences are proving costly for the existence of Maharashtra and the Marathi people. Coming together is not difficult, it's a matter of will. It's not just about my desire or selfishness," Raj Thackeray said, as quoted by NDTV.
"We need to look at the bigger picture. All Marathi people across political parties should unite and form a single party," he added.
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What Did Uddhav Thackeray Say?
Uddhav Thackeray hinted that he's open to making amends, but with certain conditions, while speaking to a gathering organised by the Bhartiya Kamgar Sena.
"I'm ready to put aside petty disputes. I appeal to all Marathi people to unite in the interest of Maharashtra. But there is a condition – when we pointed out in Parliament that industries were being shifted to Gujarat, if we had united then, we could have formed a government that worked for Maharashtra. We cannot keep switching sides – supporting them one day, opposing them the next, and then compromising again," Uddhav Thackeray said, as per the reports.
"Anyone who acts against Maharashtra's interests – I will not welcome them, invite them home, or sit with them. Let this be clear first, and then let us work together for Maharashtra," he added.
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The comments come when both leaders have criticised the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi compulsory in Marathi and English medium schools from Class 1 to 5. Both parties see this policy, introduced by the BJP-led government, as an attack on the Marathi language.
