From Mughals to Gen Z: Uddhav’s speech takes an unexpected historical detour
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s latest political attack has triggered fresh debate after he drew a historical comparison while targeting Gen Z activists, leaving social media with plenty to dissect.
Addressing party workers, Thackeray argued that history has often seen powerful rulers dismiss their opponents with labels that ultimately failed to stop them.
Invoking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he claimed the Mughals had underestimated the Maratha king by referring to him as a “mountain rat“, only to later face his growing power.
Drawing a parallel to current politics, Thackeray suggested that branding young protesters as “cockroaches” would not diminish their influence.
The remarks quickly gained traction online, with supporters praising the historical analogy while critics questioned the comparison and accused the former Maharashtra Chief Minister of mixing centuries-old history with present-day political messaging.
As clips of the speech spread across social media, users joked that the address felt less like a political rally and more like “a history revision class with modern political references.”
The comments come amid heightened political tensions over recent student protests and growing exchanges between Maharashtra’s ruling alliance and the opposition.
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