Mumbai: Mumbai is set to witness a triumphant celebration on July 5, as the Shiv Sena UBT led by Uddhav Thackeray has announced a ‘Marathi Vijay Melava’ (Victory Rally), following the Maharashtra government’s rollback of both government resolutions (GRs) mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language from Class 1 under the three-language formula.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut shared an image saying, “It’s settled. July 5 – A Victory Rally for Marathi! Thackeray is coming…” He captioned the post, “Jai Maharashtra.” It is speculated that the rally is a joint celebration event along with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray. However, there is no confirmation from both Sena UBT and MNS over the reunion of Thackeray brothers at the rally.

The rally, originally planned as a protest against the imposition of Hindi, will now be held in a celebratory spirit, marking what the opposition parties call a people-powered win for Marathi identity. The Shiv Sena (UBT) had earlier joined hands with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to protest the GRs and both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray were scheduled to participate in a joint protest march on July 5. However, with the government withdrawing the controversial orders on Sunday, the planned protest has now transformed into a victory rally for Marathi pride.

Announcing the change, Uddhav Thackeray stated, “Even though the protest has been called off, a victory rally will still take place. This is not just a rollback of two government decisions, it’s a win for every Marathi-speaking citizen who stood up for their language.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had declared the rollback in a press conference, flanked by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. He also announced the formation of an expert committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav to re-examine the three-language policy after wide consultation with stakeholders. The government maintained that Marathi would remain compulsory and future decisions would be based on the committee’s recommendations.

The Shiv Sena UBT and MNS had strongly opposed the move to impose Hindi from the first grade, calling it an assault on Maharashtra’s linguistic identity. MNS first raised the issue, followed by an aggressive entry by the Thackeray-led Sena. Pressure continued to mount, leading to the state government’s retreat.

Now, instead of protests and slogans, Mumbai is expected to echo with celebration, marking what many see as a rare moment of opposition unity and cultural assertion in Maharashtra.

Mumbai, June 30, 2025 — The controversy surrounding remarks made by Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi continues to unfold as he has approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash multiple FIRs registered against him. The filings stem from comments in which Azmi referred to India as ‘a golden sparrow’—a phrase he linked to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb—drawing widespread attention and sparking debates over the nature of these remarks.

Azmi’s petition argues that his statements have been misinterpreted and taken out of context, claiming they are part of a historical narrative rather than a political statement. He contends that criminal proceedings against him are unjustified and that his freedom of speech should be protected under constitutional rights.

The FIRs, registered across various districts, allege that Azmi’s comments could incite communal tensions and offend sentiments linked to national identity. Critics have accused Azmi of making divisive remarks, while supporters argue that his statements are historical references meant to shed light on past rulers and avoid misrepresentations.

Legal experts suggest that the case revolves around balancing free speech against the potential to incite discord. The court’s decision on whether to dismiss the FIRs could have broader implications for political discourse and expression of historical perspectives in India.

As the matter remains under judicial review, it continues to fuel discussions across political circles and social media, highlighting the sensitive nature of historical narratives and freedom of expression in contemporary India.

Mumbai: Even as fatalities due to passengers falling from overcrowded suburban trains on the Thane–Dombivli stretch have declined in recent years, injuries have spiked dramatically, triggering fresh alarm over commuter safety on one of Central Railway’s busiest and most dangerous corridors. Between January 2014 and December 2024, a staggering 1,025 passengers lost their lives and 1,829 were injured after falling from moving trains on this stretch.

The latest incident occurred on June 27, when a 21-year-old man died after falling from a moving train, nearly a kilometre away from the site of the Mumbra train tragedy reported on June 9th.

Decline in Fatalities, But Injuries on the Rise

The number of fatalities has shown a slight but consistent decline—from 152 in 2014 to 145 in 2022, then down to 112 in 2023 and 107 in 2024. While this suggests some improvements—possibly due to infrastructure upgrades and greater public awareness—the injury data paints a more concerning picture.

Injuries had decreased steadily from 259 in 2014 to 106 in 2022. However, 2023 saw an alarming reversal, with 144 injuries reported. This trend worsened in 2024, with 203 passengers injured—marking the highest number in nearly a decade.

Officials have pointed to overcrowding and changing commuter habits as the primary reasons behind the rising injury count. “If we compare the Thane–Dombivli stretch with the situation in 2014, there has been an increase of more than 25% in carrying capacity,” said one senior railway official. “But overcrowding during peak hours remains a critical challenge.”

A major shift in how passengers carry their belongings is also under scrutiny. “Earlier, passengers used to carry bags in hand or on one shoulder, which took up less space. Now, the use of backpacks—which take up nearly double the space—has become widespread, further reducing available space and leading to dangerous crowding at train doors,” the official added.

Debate Over Track Design

Around 15-kilometre Thane-Dombivli strech is considered one of the most accident-prone stretches in Mumbai’s suburban rail network. Several passenger rights activists blame poor track design and sharp curves—especially between Diva- Mumbra- Kalwa—for contributing to accidents.

Advocate Deepak Dubey, who lost his brother in April 2024 between Diva and Mumbra , said, “The railway must conduct safety audits and consider modern design solutions such as tunnels or flyovers to replace these outdated curves.”

Activist Siddhesh Desai argued that traditional track design no longer aligns with the realities of Mumbai’s overcrowded trains. “Curves are calculated based on ideal speed and load conditions. These assumptions break down under the pressure of extreme crowding, making doorways perilous zones,” he said.

Railway veterans, however, dispute the notion that poor track design is responsible. Former Central Railway General Manager Subodh Jain said, “It’s incorrect to claim that jerks on curves are the cause of falls. Modern railway curves are designed with transitions and compensations for centrifugal force.”

Jain emphasized that the core issue is passengers standing precariously at the edges of overfilled compartments. “The real danger comes from passengers being forced to hang out of doors due to lack of space, not from any flaw in track geometry,” he said.