Uddhav Thackeray calls for ‘BJP-free’ ram movement.

Shivsena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray addresses a gathering during the ‘Ram Raksha’ protest at Ram Mandir in Nagpur, Maharashtra on July 18, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray called for a ‘BJP-Free’ Ram movement at his ‘Ram Raksha Andolan’ (Movement to Save Ram) which he led along with his party workers on Saturday (July 18, 2026), criticizing the BJP-led Union government for alleged misappropriation of funds in the Ayodhya Ramtar temple and police action in the Ayodhya Ramtar temple.

After singing the hymns of Lord Ram at the Ram temple in Nagpur, he said his father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray was instrumental in the movement to mobilize people to support the construction of the temple in Ayodhya. Now another Ram temple movement has started without BJP, he said, addressing the party workers. He was speaking in connection with the alleged financial misappropriation of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. An FIR was registered on June 25 and the eight accused were arrested after a preliminary investigation by a 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 officials were present at the event.

He further criticized the police action meted out to citizens, members of the online group Cockroach Janta Party and social activist Sonam Wangchuk at the protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday (July 18). Mr. Wangchuk has been in a constant rush to demand the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister after the NEET Centralized Written Exams, among others, were leaked, jeopardizing the careers of thousands of students. The Delhi Police removed Mr. Wangchuk, who had fasted for 18 days, and admitted him to a hospital. The opposition parties came down hard on the Union government over the action.

Reacting to Mr. Thackeray’s statement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis while talking to the media in Pune said, “First of all, I am happy that Uddhavji has finally understood ‘jo Ram ka nahi, woh kisi kaam ka nahi’ (one who is not with Lord Ram is useless to the Lord).

Published – 18 Jul 2026 23:40 IST