Education – Uddhav Thackeray Urges Dialogue Over Prolonged Student Protest in Delhi
Education – Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday criticised the Union government’s approach to the ongoing agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), saying that open communication with protesters is a fundamental part of a healthy democracy. Addressing reporters in New Delhi after visiting Jantar Mantar to meet CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Thackeray argued that the situation could have been resolved much earlier if the authorities had chosen to engage with the demonstrators instead of allowing the dispute to continue for weeks.
Thackeray Questions Government’s Response
Speaking at the press conference, Thackeray said that the student-led protest has continued for more than a month without meaningful engagement from the government. According to him, it is the responsibility of any elected administration to initiate discussions whenever citizens take to the streets with their concerns. He maintained that even if the protesters were acting under misunderstandings, the government should have addressed those issues through dialogue rather than allowing tensions to escalate.
Thackeray added that timely communication on the very first day of the protest could have prevented the present situation from becoming more complicated. He stressed that democratic governance requires listening to public concerns and resolving disagreements through conversation.
Past Examples Highlighted
Referring to previous governments, Thackeray recalled instances where dialogue was used to address public movements. He said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had personally met the father of Sonam Wangchuk during a hunger strike in Leh. He also pointed to the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, noting that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had deputed then Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to hold discussions with the activist.
Drawing another comparison, Thackeray said that if successive governments have maintained communication channels with Pakistan despite serious security concerns, there should be no reluctance in speaking with students protesting within the country. He also referred to recent remarks made by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who had said that dialogue between the civil societies of India and Pakistan should remain possible.
Criticism of Police Action
Thackeray also expressed concern over the police action taken against protesters earlier this week. He alleged that women and young girls were subjected to force during the operation and described the reported treatment as unacceptable.
Speaking about what he witnessed, he claimed that several women and even children were present at the protest site. He further alleged that the clothing of one young girl had been torn during the police action. According to Thackeray, such incidents do not reflect the cultural values that the country claims to uphold, and he strongly condemned the alleged behaviour.
Appeal for Opposition Coordination
Apart from urging the government to engage with the protesters, Thackeray also called on opposition parties to maintain communication among themselves regarding the ongoing movement.
His remarks came after the Aam Aadmi Party accused the Congress of acting as the BJP’s “B-Team” and alleged that a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence had diverted attention from the CJP agitation. Without directly commenting on the accusations, Thackeray said that opposition parties should remain united on issues affecting young people and focus on supporting democratic dialogue.
He stated that his decision to meet Abhijeet Dipke reflected his commitment to standing with the youth and reiterated that discussions remain the best way to resolve disagreements.
Meeting With Arvind Kejriwal
Later in the day, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal met Uddhav Thackeray at the residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut in Delhi.
Reaffirming his support for the movement, Thackeray said he had stood with the students since the beginning of the protest. He described young people as the country’s future and warned that attempts to suppress their voices could deepen public dissatisfaction. He also objected to the use of the term “cockroaches” for the protesters, saying such language was inappropriate and could further increase tensions. According to him, democratic societies must respond to dissent through dialogue rather than confrontation.