Mumbai, July 25: In a strongly worded editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana on Saturday, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) launched a blistering attack on the Union government, the Delhi Police, and the judiciary.

The editorial alleged that the ruling dispensation is systematically eroding the foundational principles of the Indian Constitution while remaining indifferent to the mounting anger among students over repeated leaks of national-level examination papers.

Invoking the Preamble of the Constitution, the editorial described its opening words — “We, the People of India” — as the foundation and soul of the nation’s democratic framework, designed to guarantee social, economic, and political justice alongside liberty, equality, and fraternity. However, the editorial alleged that over the past 12 years, this constitutional ethos has been crushed.

“The four pillars of democracy stand dismantled, and the vision of ‘We, the People of India’ is mocked every single day,” the Thackeray camp asserted, adding that citizens nonetheless remain committed to safeguarding the nation’s democratic values.

The editorial focused heavily on the political fallout surrounding climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 26-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, which ended late Thursday night. Wangchuk broke his fast after accepting a cup of soup from Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh.

The editorial questioned the circumstances of the fast’s conclusion, noting that none of the protesters’ primary demands — most notably the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan — were met. Critics cited in the editorial pointed out that Wangchuk had previously been forcibly removed by security personnel behind a white sheet, detained at a hospital, and persuaded to end his fast without consulting fellow demonstrators.

Despite Wangchuk breaking his fast, student and youth groups across the country have pledged to continue their agitation, framing the movement as a broader struggle to defend national democracy against systemic corruption in education, said the editorial.

To highlight the scale of the crisis, the editorial cited figures shared by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, stating that 152 instances of exam paper leaks have taken place across India in the last decade without yielding a single conviction. This widespread failure has impacted an estimated 75 million students and their families.

In response to the demonstrations, Pradhan sparked outrage by dismissing the protesters at Jantar Mantar as “goons” rather than genuine students. Nadda accused opposition parties of politicising student grievances for electoral gains and urged that the matter be raised constructively in Parliament instead.

The Saamana editorial dismissed Nadda’s allegations, asking how political parties expressing solidarity with peaceful student protesters could be labelled as opportunistic. The Thackeray camp severely criticised the Delhi Police for using excessive force against young demonstrators, alleging that officers cracked down violently and tore the clothes of female protesters.

The editorial also directed harsh criticism toward Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alleging that when lawyers approached the Supreme Court with an urgent petition regarding police brutality, the CJI refused to review visual evidence of the assault, cold-heartedly stating, “Do not waste time watching such assault videos; we have absolutely no interest in them.”

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena claimed that when the judiciary appears subservient to an unfeeling administration, citizens are left with no refuge for justice. Despite its grim assessment of state institutions, the editorial highlighted one positive outcome — members of the legal fraternity at the Supreme Court openly declared their solidarity with the demonstrating students.

Lawyers gathered on the Supreme Court premises to register their protest by reading aloud the Preamble of the Constitution.

The editorial concluded with a call to action, reinforcing that even as state machinery fails, the citizens of India will remain steadfast in protecting their constitutional heritage.

Mumbai: Actress and television personality Rakhi Sawant has sparked widespread discussion after sharing a social media post related to the ongoing student protests in the country.

The post featured a symbolic red sanitary pad, which many users interpreted as a gesture of support for the protesting students. The image quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions across social media platforms.

While several users appreciated the symbolic message and described it as an expression of solidarity, others criticised the post, calling the imagery controversial and inappropriate. The incident has reignited debate over the role of celebrities in expressing views on social and political issues.

The controversy has generated significant public attention, with supporters defending freedom of expression and critics questioning the use of symbolic imagery in sensitive matters.

As of now, Rakhi Sawant has not issued an official statement responding to the controversy surrounding her post. There has also been no official confirmation of any legal action specifically related to her social media activity.

The issue continues to attract attention online, with discussions focusing on freedom of expression, public responsibility, and the influence of celebrities on national conversations.

Mumbai: Citizens of Bhiwandi on Friday spontaneously organised a ‘Tiranga Pail Yatra’ (Tricolor March) to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the ‘NEET’ paper leak scandal and to express solidarity with the nationwide student protests. Led by Samajwadi Party MLA (Bhiwandi East) Rais Sheikh, the foot march was attended by a large number of local citizens as well as opposition party workers and leaders. The march covered the route from Amjadiya Road in Bhiwandi to Shanti Nagar and was concluded in the evening. No flags of any political party were hoisted during the rally, but citizens held the tricolor in their hands and expressed the spirit of unity. The peaceful procession demonstrated the spirit of unity ‘One Nation, One Passion’. Many participants raised slogans demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, including “Inqilab Zindabad” (Long Live the Revolution) while others held placards protesting against the Modi government. The march ended with the presentation of a memorandum to the Bhiwandi Sub-Divisional Officer.

Speaking to the media during the event, MLA Raees Sheikh said that the ‘Tiranga March’ was not affiliated with any specific political party but was a spontaneous initiative by the citizens of Bhiwandi. He noted the growing nationwide anger against the central government over the ‘NEET’ paper leak and the brutal lathicharge on protesting students. The aim of the march was to support the student movement and demand an end to corruption in the examination system. The participants demanded that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign, holding him responsible for the ‘NEET’ paper leak incident. The memorandum issued by the ‘Tiranga Rally’ has put forward four demands: a judicial inquiry into the brutal lathicharge on student protesters at Delhi’s ‘Jantar Mantar’; a financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to the families of students who committed suicide following the NEET paper leak; and withdrawal of police cases registered against student protesters in Delhi as well as all states and union territories.