Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has announced a major protest rally on July 5 at Girgaon Chowpatty in Mumbai to oppose what he describes as the "imposition of Hindi." Originally scheduled for July 6, the march has now been advanced by a day, while all other arrangements remain the same.

Thackeray made the announcement on the social media platform X, describing the rally as a show of Marathi solidarity and cultural pride. Emphasizing the event’s non-political nature, he stated that there would be no political flags and the sole focus would be on Marathi identity. He stressed that the leadership of the rally would be in the hands of a Marathi individual.

He added that students, parents, scholars, and language experts would be encouraged to join the march, and that all political parties across Maharashtra would be contacted to support the initiative. Thackeray claimed that the rally would reflect the true sentiments of the Marathi people and would make clear who supports the cause and who remains silent. According to him, the demonstration aims to convey a strong message to the government about the will of the people of Maharashtra, emphasizing that the state's unity and cultural identity stand above political differences or disputes. This protest comes amid concerns over a reported move by the Maharashtra government to make Hindi mandatory in all school classes. In response, on June 24, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that no final decision would be taken without consulting literary figures, language experts, and political leaders.

A meeting on the "three-language formula" was recently held at the Chief Minister’s residence, attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, Minister of State Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar, and education officials. It was agreed that a detailed analysis of language policies across states would be conducted, with attention to ensure Marathi-speaking students are not disadvantaged under the new education policy. A comprehensive proposal will be developed and shared with key stakeholders before a final decision is made. Minister Dada Bhuse will now lead the next round of consultations with experts and political representatives.