25 July,2026 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Protesters chant slogans in unison while holding the tricolour
Thousands carrying Tricolours packed Shivaji Park on Friday for the Shiv Sena (UBT)-organised Tiranga Morcha, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak, in the biggest show of strength yet in Mumbai's week-long student protests.
Local authorities estimated the turnout at around 2000 to 2500 as protesters gathered around the Meenatai Thackeray statue with placards and portraits of Bhagat Singh and Dr B R Ambedkar. Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray addressed the gathering, while MNS leader Amit Thackeray also joined the protest.
In a marked departure from earlier demonstrations, police did not detain students on Friday, with a senior official saying they had requested that protesters not be taken into custody. However, authorities said the morcha did not have police permission, and cases would be registered over the gathering later on Friday.
Around 200 police personnel were deployed at Shivaji Park. At least four protesters were seen fainting, while this reporter could not locate a standby ambulance.
Where: Shivaji Park, Dadar
Protest: Tiranga Morcha
Organised by: Shiv Sena (UBT)
Issue: Alleged NEET paper leak
Main demand: Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation
Turnout: 2000 to 2500
Police deployment: Around 200 personnel
Protesters seen fainting: At least 4
Detentions: Police said they requested that students not be detained
Addressing the gathering, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray warned the government against suppressing the student movement.
"This is âjan ki baat' and Delhi has to listen to it. The way students were attacked, tear-gassed, I am warning the government - you can have lathis, but we have Tirangas. Let's see who wins," Thackeray said.
Aaditya Thackeray said the agitation would continue despite activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his indefinite hunger strike.
He said he had spoken to Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and asked him not to return to Maharashtra until Pradhan resigned.
MNS leader Amit Thackeray, son of Raj Thackeray, also addressed the gathering, saying the Gen Z protests had put the government on the back foot.
Around 200 police personnel were deployed at Shivaji Park even before the protest's scheduled 4 pm start.
Senior police official told mid-day that police had requested that students not be detained.
"Today we have requested the Joint CP sir not to detain any of the students who came as protesters," he said.
The approach was in contrast to earlier demonstrations this week, when students and activists were detained while attempting to gather around Shivaji Park.
However, with prohibitory orders under Section 163 in force, sources said organisers could face legal action over Friday's gathering.
Hundreds had gathered around the Meenatai Thackeray statue before 4 pm. The numbers soon grew into hundreds and hundreds, leaving parts of the gathering tightly packed. At least four protesters were seen fainting amid the crowd and heat, while three others were seen resting on a parapet near the park entrance. Despite the size of the gathering, this reporter could not locate a standby ambulance near the protest site.
Asked about medical arrangements, a police personnel said, "I think there is one on the right end of the street."
A check of the area by this reporter, however, found no ambulance stationed there.
Rahul Ramughade and Tejas Relekar, both with disabilities, attended the protest in their wheelchairs. "We are here to support all the kids who have lost their lives to this as well as those kids who suffered with the re-NEET. All these previous days I couldn't attend due to work. Today I took a half day and decided to show up so that I can also show my support in this peaceful protest," Ramughade said.
Zeel Shah, 22, who has participated in several Mumbai demonstrations supporting the CJP-led movement in Delhi, said protesters must ensure that the alleged NEET paper leak remains at the centre of the agitation.
Though Shah could not attend Friday's protest, she said, "Yes, the protest is being derailed, but that is because other causes and political parties are being attached to it. I am trying my best to steer those who listen to me back on track towards the actual issue." She maintained that protesters were not necessarily rallying behind CJP as a political organisation. "CJP is just a medium through which we are protesting. If any other political party had come out to protest about the same, the protesters would still join, I believe."
