Uddhav Thackeray calls for ‘BJP-free’ Ram movement

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray called for a “BJP-Free” Ram movement at his “Ram Raksha Andolan” (Save Ram Movement), which he conducted along with his party workers on Saturday (July 18, 2026), criticising the BJP-led Union government over alleged financial misappropriation at the Ayodhya Ram temple and the police action on protesters at Jantar Mantar.

Speaking after chanting hymns of Lord Ram at the Ram temple in Nagpur, he said that his father and founder of Shiv Sena, Bal Thackeray, was instrumental in the movement to mobilise people in support of building a temple at Ayodhya. Now the next movement for a Ram temple without the BJP has begun, he said, addressing party workers. He was speaking in the context of the alleged financial misappropriation of donations in the Ram temple at Ayodhya. An FIR was registered on June 25, and eight accused were arrested after a preliminary enquiry by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). 

Worli MLA Aditya Thackeray, MP Sanjay Raut, MLA Ambadas Danve, MLA Sunil Prabhu, Anil Desai, Suraj Chavan, Nagpur Metropolitan Chief Kishor Kumeria, Satish Harde and other office bearers were present at the event. 

He further criticised the police action that citizens, members of the online group Cockroach Janta Party and social activist Sonam Wangchuk were subjected to at the protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday (July 18). Mr. Wangchuk has been on an indefinite fast demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister after NEET examination, among other centralised exam papers, were leaked, which jeopardised the careers of thousands of students. Delhi Police removed Mr. Wangchuk, who had fasted for 18 days,  and admitted him to a hospital. Opposition parties came down heavily on the Union government for the action.

Responding to Mr. Thackeray’s statements, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while speaking to the media in Pune, said: ”First of all, I am happy that Uddhavji has finally realised ‘jo Ram ka nahi, woh kisi kaam ka nahi’ (one who is not with Lord Ram is of no use). Therefore, he has returned to Lord Ram, and I congratulate him for that,” .