Raj Thackeray: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Indian politician}}

| image              = Raj at MNS Koli Festival.jpg

| caption            = Thackeray in 2013

| term_start1        = 9 March 2006

| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1968|6|14|df=y}}

| residence          = [[Shivaji Park]], [[Dadar]], [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]

| alma_mater          = [[University of Mumbai]]<br /> [[Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art]]

| profession          = Politician

'''Raj Shrikant Thackeray''' (Marathi pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[ɾaːd͡ʒ ʈʰaːkɾeː]]], born '''Swararaj Shrikant Thackeray'''; 14 June 1968) is an Indian politician and chairperson of the [[Maharashtra Navnirman Sena]] (MNS), a regional political party. He is the nephew of [[Bal Thackeray]]; and a cousin of [[Shiv Sena]] chief and the 19th and current [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra]] [[Uddhav Thackeray]].

Raj Thackeray's given name is a [[hypocorism]] of Swararaj.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020|reason=Your explanation here}} His parents were Shrikant Thackeray (younger brother of [[Bal Thackeray]]) and Kunda Thackeray (younger sister of Bal Thackeray's wife Meena Thackeray). As a child he learnt tabla, guitar and violin.<ref name="MNS official website"/> Thackeray is a graduate of Mumbai's [[Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-return-of-raj/story-OQqQPqT1LXgH3ZanHP94NN.html|title=The return of Raj|date=31 October 2009|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref> Upon graduation he joined ''Marmik'', the weekly magazine of Bal Thackeray, as a cartoonist.<ref name="MNS official website">[http://www.manase.org/en/maharashtra.php?mid=66&smid=38&did=0&dsid=0&pmid=0&id=888 MNS official website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217060857/http://www.manase.org/en/maharashtra.php?mid=66&smid=38&did=0&dsid=0&pmid=0&id=888 |date=17 December 2013 }} Accessed October 2011.</ref>{{primary source inline|date=August 2013}}

Thackeray started his political career by launching the student wing of Shiv sena called Bharatiya Vidyarthi sena. He came to prominence during the campaign for 1990 Maharashtra assembly elections. During the 1990s, Raj believed himself to the heir of his uncle, Balasaheb. However, Balasaheb showed strong preference for his own son, Uddhav.

Years after being sidelined, the disillusioned Thackeray resigned from Shiv sena on 27th November 2005 and announced his intention to start a new political party. On 9 March 2006 in Mumbai, Thackeray founded "Maharashtra Navnirman Sena" party.<ref>{{cite book|title=Business Standard Political Profiles of Cabals and Kings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qT7QvviGoJsC&pg=PA23|year=2009|publisher=Business Standard Books|isbn=978-81-905735-4-2|pages=89–90}}</ref>

In February 2008 Raj Thackeray led a [[2008 attacks on North Indians in Maharashtra|violent movement]]

At a rally in Shivaji Park, Raj warned that if the ''dadagiri'' (intimidating dominance) of these people (North Indians) in Mumbai and Maharashtra continued, he would be compelled to make them leave the metropolis.<ref name="dadagiri">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080048753|title=Raj Thackeray dares Maharashtra govt on north Indians' stand|date=3 May 2008|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=6 January 2009|quote=Addressing a crowded public meeting at Shivaji Park in central Bombay, the place where his uncle and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray addresses his annual Dussehra rallies, Raj warned if the dadagiri of north Indians in Bombay and Maharashtra continued, he would be compelled to make them leave the metropolis.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327145243/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080048753|archive-date=27 March 2009}}</ref> Raj was arrested along with a [[Samajwadi Party]] leader, Abu Azmi, but was released on paying a penalty of {{INRConvert|15|k}}.  

[[Jaya Bachchan]], veteran actor and MP of [[Samajwadi Party]], during the Music launch of the [[Hindi]] film [[Drona]], said  'Hum UP ([[Uttar Pradesh]]) ke log hain, isliye Hindi mein baat karenge, Maharashtra ke log Maaf Kijiye' (We are people of UP, so we will speak in Hindi. People of Maharashtra, please excuse).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/sep/08video1.htm |title=rediff.com: Jaya Bachchan's controversial clip |publisher=Specials.rediff.com |access-date=28 July 2010}}</ref> Thackeray commented that she had no business alluding to all the people of Maharashtra in that statement. He threatened to ban all Bachchan films unless Jaya apologised in a public forum for hurting Maharashtrians. MNS workers began to attack theatres featuring films affiliated to her. It was only after Amitabh tendered an apology that the screening resumed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/weekend/inside.asp?xfile=/data/weekend/2009/October/weekend_October66.xml |title=Khaleej Times Online |publisher=Khaleejtimes.com |date=16 October 2009 |access-date=28 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608080905/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/weekend/inside.asp?xfile=%2Fdata%2Fweekend%2F2009%2FOctober%2Fweekend_October66.xml |archive-date=8 June 2011 }}</ref> Following Raj's threat, Maharashtra Police acted against Raj, issuing a gag order preventing him from speaking to the media.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-09-08/news/28476252_1_raj-thackeray-gag-order-release-and-exhibition | title=Gag order issued against Raj Thackeray | newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] | date=8 September 2008 | access-date=2 September 2012 }}</ref>

In October 2008, [[Jet Airways]] laid off 800 temporary workers and announced layoffs of an additional 1100 workers. The laid-off workers included Marathi as well as North-Indians. Thackeray was asked to intervene. Following this, Raj Thackeray declared that most of these workers had paid security deposits to the company, and he would meet Jet management to plead their case. Unless Jet Airways cancelled the layoffs, his party would not allow any Jet Airways plane to take off from any airport in Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy4qrypiG5k&NR=1 |title=Raj Thakre Helps Jet Airways Staff |publisher=YouTube |date=25 May 2008 |access-date=28 July 2010}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links}}</ref> Within 12 hours of Raj Thackeray's declaration, Jet chairman [[Naresh Goyal]] reversed the layoffs and reinstated the sacked employees. He said that he did it on his own and that there was no political pressure on him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNBiGrqiwno&NR=1  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/FNBiGrqiwno |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Jet airways Employees vow Raj Thakre for jobs |publisher=YouTube |access-date=28 July 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?621425 |title=Jet barred us from meeting Raj Thackeray: Crew |publisher=news.outlookindia.com |access-date=28 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718090441/http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?621425 |archive-date=18 July 2011 }}</ref>

On 2 October 2009, MNS workers disrupted the screening of the film [[Wake Up Sid]] on its release in a few Pune and Mumbai theatres, after Raj objected to references in the movie to "Bombay" rather than "Mumbai". The city of Mumbai was referred to as "Bombay" in many scenes<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/03/stories/2009100356650100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004133930/http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/03/stories/2009100356650100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 October 2009 |title=Front Page News: Wednesday, July&nbsp;28, 2010 |date= 3 October 2009|access-date=28 July 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> and in some songs (lyrics by [[Javed Akhtar]]).

In Dec 2011, Raj Thackeray meeting a group from MES (Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti) advised them that they should revisit their stand of merging [[Belgaum]] with Maharashtra in the interest of Marathi speaking people of Belgaum. In a major departure from the earlier held stand of traditional right wing groups of Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray pointed out that a practical approach rather than an emotional one is the need of the hour. However, he advocated that if the [[Supreme Court of India]] itself gives a decision in favour of Belgaum's merger, he would welcome it but the local situation in Belgaum should not be vitiated for the sake of it. He asked the MES leaders to first identify the real issue as to whether Marathis in Belgaum are being targeted for espousing the cause of [[Marathi language]] or because they were supporting the merger of Belgaum with Maharashtra. Lamenting that strikes and bandhs only add to the misery of the Marathi-speaking community in Belgaum, Thackeray said: "If the Karnataka government is ready to respect the Marathi people, their culture and language, then there is nothing wrong in Belgaum being there."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_let-belgaum-be-with-karnataka-raj-thackeray_1627869 |title=Let Belgaum be with Karnataka: Raj Thackeray&nbsp;– Mumbai&nbsp;– DNA |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=20 December 2011 |access-date=22 September 2012}}</ref> His comments were strongly criticised by his cousin [[Uddhav Thackeray|Uddhav]] as a cruel joke on the Marathi people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_uddhav-thackeray-runs-to-president-urges-her-to-make-belgaum-union-territory_1628288 |title=Uddhav Thackeray runs to President, urges her to make Belgaum Union territory&nbsp;– Mumbai&nbsp;– DNA |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=21 December 2011 |access-date=22 September 2012}}</ref>

Raj Thackeray and his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, state that [[Maharashtra|Maharashtra State]], [[Marathi language]] and [[Marathi people|Marathi ''Manoos'']] are subverted by the influence of Marathi politicians.<ref>[http://www.manase.org/en/maharashtra.php?mid=67&smid=15&id=279 MNS official website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024183110/http://www.manase.org/en/maharashtra.php?mid=67&smid=15&id=279 |date=24 October 2011 }} Accessed October 2011.</ref> He has opposed migration into Maharashtra from [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Bihar]].<ref name="ExpressIndia">[http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Do-political-movements-need-to-obey-the-law-What-about-Advani-rath-yatra-Modis-Godhra-outrage/276266/ "Do political movements need to obey the law? What about Advani [[Ram Rath Yatra|rath yatra]], Modi’s [[2002 Gujarat riots|Godhra outrage]]?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328102851/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Do-political-movements-need-to-obey-the-law-What-about-Advani-rath-yatra-Modis-Godhra-outrage/276266/ |date=28 March 2008 }} ''ExpressIndia.com''. Retrieved 25 October 2011</ref>

Raj reproached North Indian leaders for politicising [[Chhath|Chhath Puja]], a festival popular in eastern [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], and [[Jharkhand]] calling it a "drama" and a "show of numerical strength". He stated that the Chhath Puja was a political gimmick by some parties to attract the north Indian vote.<ref name="Jaya">{{Cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/03mns.htm|access-date=4 April 2008|title=Jaya takes on Raj; MNS, SP activists clash in Mumbai|date=3 February 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> A [[petition]] was filed in the Patna civil court on 8 February against him for his remarks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=421796&sid=REG|title= Petition against Raj Thackeray in Patna court |access-date=4 April 2008|publisher=[[Zee News]]}}</ref> His statements were criticised from political leaders, especially those from the North Indian states.<ref name="Jaya"/> He accused migrants of swamping Maharashtra, India's most industrialised state, in search of jobs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7242617.stm|title=Right-wing Mumbai leader arrested|work=BBC NEWS|date=13 February 2008|access-date=26 July 2008}}</ref> The MNS chief also accused migrants of disrespecting the local culture. In 2008, expressing his stance on new migrants settling in Mumbai, Raj said, "New immigrants to the city should be denied entry into the city, while those already staying here should show respect to the Marathi 'manoos' and his culture".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/09mumbai.htm|access-date=4 April 2008|date=9 February 2008|publisher=[[Rediff]]|title=Respect Marathi ban-manoos or leave Mumbai}}</ref>

Thackeray and his party have been criticised for use of violence during their agitations, especially directed towards immigrants from UP and Bihar. On use of violence, Thackeray says that violence is a part of all agitations in Indian politics, and there are several cases of much more violence carried out by other parties and organisations. According to him, the incidences of violence involving members of his party have been unduly highlighted by North Indian politicians and journalists.<ref name="ExpressIndia" />

Thackeray is married to Sharmila Wagh, daughter of Marathi cinema photographer, producer-director Mohan Wagh. They have a son, Amit Thackeray and a daughter, Urvashi Thackeray. His children attended [[Bombay Scottish School, Mahim]], a renowned Mumbai [[English-medium education|English medium]] school founded by Scottish Christian missionaries in 1847.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mumbai Scottish just doesn't sound nice |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/speak-up/report-mumbai-scottish-just-doesn-t-sound-nice-1163996 |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=DNA |issue=12 May 2008 |publisher=Diligent Media Corporation, an Essel Group company |date=2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Now, miscreants target Thackeray kids' school |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Redevelopment-fever-hits-Lokhandwala/articleshow/3030737.cms |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=Times of India |issue=12 May 2008 |publisher=Times of India |date=2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=From wife Sharmila to daughter-in-law Mitali Bourde, know all about Raj Thackeray's family tree |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/raj-thackeray-family-know-about-his-wife-sharmila-son-amit-thackeray-daughter-in-law-mitali-bourde-and-other-members/473764 |access-date=18 August 2020 |work=Times Now |date=22 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

* ''[[Zenda (film)|Zenda]]''

[[Category:Thackeray family (Maharashtra)]]