Sanjay Raut abuses rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs and asks media to publish his remarks uncensored, later claims that such abusive words are normal in Marathi

Amid speculations of defection in Shiv Sena (UBT), senior party leader Sanjay Raut used abusive language for MPs suspected of crossing over to the ruling Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Raut lashed out and hurled abuses at the rebel MPs during a press conference on Wednesday (17th June). He openly used expletives for them and asked media persons not to censor his comments and to publish his remarks unedited, indicating that the remarks were deliberate.

“Ye saale bho***che log…Don’t cut this…these people are dishonest, and dishonesty is in their blood, it now seems. I am not naming any individual or party,” Raut said

Raut claimed that he had information that the rebel MPs were being bought. “I got a call from an important person. He told me the MPs have been promised ₹50 crore, with ₹15 crore as an advance. MPs are being bought in Maharashtra,” Raut alleged.

In a later media interaction, Raut was seen defending his remarks, saying that the abusive words he used during the earlier press conference were not expletives but common words used in the Marathi language. “We use such words in the Marathi language. What is wrong with it? I very well know which language to use and when. Only a language which a person understands must be used. I have not used this language in the Parliament. What will you say about a person who leaves a party by accepting Rs 15 crores? Will you shower flower petals on such a person?” Raut said.

This is not the first time that Sanjay Raut has openly used abusive language. Earlier in 2020, Raut had called actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut “haramkhor” after she voiced her concerns about Mumbai resembling Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the wake of a series of ‘Azaadi slogan’ graffiti that had come up in Mumbai. He even threatened her not to return to Mumbai. After facing backlash for his distasteful remarks, Raut claimed that the word “haramkhor” meant “naughty” and “dishonest”.

Speculations of Operation Tiger in Maharashtra

Ahead of Shiv Sena’s 60th Foundation Day on 19th June, Uddhav Thackeray is now looking at another split in his faction of that party, as six of his nine Lok Sabha MPs are likely to defect and merge with Shiv Sena (Shinde). The speculations of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs defecting from the party came to light on Tuesday when Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The letter came after six out of the nine MPs of the Shiv Sena (UBT) became unreachable to the party. In the letter, Sawant reportedly requested the Lok Sabha Speaker not to heed the requests of any defecting MPs for forming a separate group. He also issued a whip directing all nine party MPs to attend a meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The six MPs suspected of defecting are Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli), Omraje Naik Nimbalkar (Dharashiv), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), and Bhausaheb Wakchoure (Shirdi). They are expected to meet the Lok Sabha to hand over letter intimating their decision.

Reports emerged suggesting that leaders from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena are in touch with MPs and MLAs from the Thackeray camp as part of an ongoing ‘Operation Tiger’. Meanwhile, MP Sanjay Patil (Mumbai North East) has also denied the claims of defecting from the party.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP from Nashik, Rajabhau Waje, expressed his support for Udhhav Thackeray and clarified that he has not been contacted by anyone from Shiv Sena. “I am with Uddhav ji and will remain with him. I have no contacts with anyone else. I have not received any call, and no contact has been established with me by Shinde ji. I am not upset, and I am with them (Shiv Sena-UBT). I have come here for a committee meeting,” Waje said.

In case six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs manage to break away from the party, they would constitute two-thirds of the parliamentary party, and hence would be able to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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