In a veiled swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday, 13 August, alleged that concerted efforts were under way to erode the significance of Mumbai and Maharashtra.

Speaking at the 65th foundation day of Marmik — the magazine founded in 1966 by his father, Bal Thackeray, and uncle, Shrikant Thackeray — the former chief minister warned against attempts to marginalise the “Marathi manoos” and alter the city’s character.

“Before the undivided Shiv Sena was formed, the Marathi manoos was treated as an outsider. Efforts are being made to recreate those circumstances — whether through the imposition of Hindi or by diminishing the importance of Mumbai and Maharashtra. These attempts have not stopped,” he said.

Thackeray vowed that the work of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Marmik would continue “until those who indulge in such efforts are defeated.”

He also accused political rivals of creating distractions through trivial controversies — citing debates over feeding pigeons and a recent Supreme Court directive on stray dogs — to divert public attention from pressing issues.