Page 2 - Sanjay Raut

No need to discuss PM Modi's successor: CM Fadnavis to Sanjay Raut

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday dismissed speculation about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's successor, asserting that Modi would continue to lead the country for many more years. Responding to Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut's claim that Modi went to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday to convey the message to Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat that he is retiring, Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur, In 2029, we will see Modi as the prime minister again. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, senior RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji' Joshi said he is not aware of any talk of (PM's) replacement. There is no need to search for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue, Fadnavis said. Discussing succession while the leader is active is inappropriate in Indian culture, the CM added. In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it, he said, referring to Raut's claim .

Sanjay Raut asks Centre to provide security for Kunal Kamra as FIRs pile up

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday demanded Central protection for comedian Kunal Kamra, facing flak and investigation over his jibe against Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, on the similar lines it had protected actor Kangana Ranaut in 2020. Multiple FIRs were registered against Kamra for his "traitor" jibe at Shiv Sena head and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde during a show, leading to the ransacking of a studio by Shiv Sena workers last Sunday. On Friday, the Madras High Court granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra, against whom Mumbai Police had issued two notices seeking his personal appearance for questioning. Raut also welcomed the Supreme Court order on quashing an FIR against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi for allegedly posting a clip of a poem advocating the protection of freedom of speech and expression. He said like Pratapgarhi, Kamra is also an artist, poet, and satirist. "Kamra should come to Mumbai to put forth his point (before the police). The Centre protecte

BJP raking up Disha Salian case after failing on Aurangzeb: Sanjay Raut

Disha Salian was found dead on June 2, 2020, days before actor Sushant Rajput was found hanging in his flat in suburban Bandra, Mumbai

Raut slams Eknath Shinde for questioning Uddhav over skipping Maha Kumbh

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday hit out at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for raising questions over Uddhav Thackeray not attending the recently concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Talking to reporters, Raut also criticised Shinde's political acumen and said the BJP should train the deputy CM on how to ask questions. Because of Shinde's blunders, the BJP and its leaders are getting "exposed" more than Uddhav Thackeray, the Rajya Sabha member claimed. Shinde's Shiv Sena is a constituent of the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti in the state. The Maha Kumbh was held at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh from January 13 to February 26. On Shinde targeting Sena (UBT) head and former CM Uddhav Thackeray for not attending the Maha Kumbh, Raut said, "Shinde should ask this question first to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. If Bhagwat, as a Hindu, has not visited the Kumbh to take a dip, why target Uddhav Thackeray?" Raut also said he had never seen pictures of RSS founder Dr K B Hedgewar,

PM, Shah must meet K'taka, Maha CMs to prevent Belagavi-like assaults: Raut

After the incident, MSRTC cancelled the service of its buses going from Kolhapur to Karnataka

Sharad Pawar should not have felicitated Eknath Shinde, says Sanjay Raut

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday expressed strong disapproval of its ally and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar felicitating Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at an event in Delhi. It was Shinde who split the Shiv Sena with the help of Amit Shah, and felicitating him was akin to honouring the BJP leader, said Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut. Shinde was on Tuesday honoured with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar at the hands of Pawar and in the presence of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on the occasion of the 98th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan. Pawar heads the reception committee of the literary meet, scheduled to start next week. Raut said Pawar should not have attended the event, as Shinde toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led government of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress in Maharashtra in 2022 by resorting to "betrayal". "Certain things should be avoided in politics. Yesterday, Sharad Pawar did not felicitate Shinde, but he felicitated Amit Shah. Thi

Sanjay Raut accuses Hazare of keeping mum on irregularities under BJP rule

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday accused Anna Hazare of not raising his voice against corruption post-2014 under BJP-headed governments, days after the activist said AAP lost the Delhi polls due to Arvind Kejriwal's focus on money. Hazare hit back, saying some people perceived things as per their mental set-up. "Arvind Kejriwal and Manoj Sisodia made Anna (Hazare) a mahatma. Without them, Anna couldn't have seen Delhi also. After 2014, there was an explosion of irregularities under the BJP-ruled Centre and Maharashtra, but Anna didn't utter a single word," Raut told reporters. He said Hazare should have visited Ram Leela and Jantar Mantar in Delhi to protest against corruption. Responding to the criticism, Hazare said, "A person wearing a particular colour of spectacle sees the world accordingly". After AAP suffered a drubbing in the recent Delhi assembly polls, Hazare said Kejriwal "only focussed on liquor" and forgot to serve the people.

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Fadnavis dismisses claim of not shifting to CM house due to superstition

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday dismissed claims of not shifting to the official CM residence in south Mumbai due to superstition, and said he would move in after his daughter's board exams get over. His clarification comes hours after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut that buffaloes sacrificed in Guwahati during Eknath Shinde's visit to the Kamakhya temple were buried on the premises of 'Varsha', the official residence of the chief minister, so that the CM's post should not go to anybody else other than Shinde. Shinde became the chief minister of the state in June 2022 after he rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray and joined hands with the BJP. He remained the CM till November 2024. But after the assembly polls, Fadnavis took over as the chief minister for the third time. Fadnavis currently stays at 'Sagar' bungalow despite taking charge as chief minister in the first week of December. Dismissing Raut's claims, Fadnavis said, "I will move into 'Varsha' bungalow .

Fadnavis-Shinde 'discord' has hit Maharashtra's progress: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed the "strained relation" between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was hindering the state's progress. In his weekly column Rokhthok in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamna', Raut further claimed Shinde was yet to come to terms with the fact that he was not reinstated as chief minister after the November 2024 assembly polls and was desperately trying to regain the position, which Fadnavis fully understands. In the last year's assembly elections, the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shinde's Shiv Sena and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar, won 230 of the 288 seats in the state. "Our Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP-backed Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have almost no real communication anymore, which has turned into a source of entertainment for the public," the Rajya Sabha member charged. Raut claimed this ongoing "discord" has affected the Maharashtra government's functioning. "Despite

Every budget presented by Modi govt is an election package: Sanjay Raut

Election is due in Bihar - Modi government's every budget is an election package, Raut added

Mahayuti's appointment of guardian ministers shows rift in alliance: Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged that the Mahayuti government's handling of the appointment of guardian minister was a sign of internal discord in the alliance. The state government on Saturday announced guardian ministers for 36 districts of the state, but a day later, issued an order to stay the appointments for Nashik and Raigad. NCP's Aditi Tatkare was appointed as the guardian minister for Raigad, while BJP leader Girish Mahajan was given the responsibility of Nashik. Talking to reporters, Raut said, "The government is failing to manage its internal conflicts. (Deputy Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde's anger over the allocation of guardian ministers is clear, and his authority is being questioned." The Rajya Sabha MP was reacting to reports of Eknath Shinde's dissatisfaction over the appointments for Raigad and Nashik. He also hinted that state Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant might be groomed as a possible replacement for Shinde. Accordi

Dialogue needed to save, strengthen INDIA bloc: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Raut

Raut's remarks came after Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja admitted that the INDIA bloc 'stands divided' post-Lok Sabha election 2024

Sena (UBT) never called for disbanding INDIA bloc or MVA: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said his party wants to go solo in the local bodies polls to strengthen its base and has never called for dissolution of the opposition INDIA bloc or the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Raut's remarks came a day after he cited the lack of opportunities for workers of respective parties in an alliance and the right to organisational growth as the major considerations for contesting solo, which raised a question mark over the opposition bloc's unity. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Raut said, "The MVA was formed for the assembly polls and INDIA bloc for the Lok Sabha elections. The local body elections are meant to empower party workers and strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level." "I or my party have never said that the INDIA bloc or the MVA should be dissolved," the Rajya Sabha member added. The INDIA bloc and MVA alliances include the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). Asked about the ...

Shiv Sena (UBT) to go alone in local bodies elections, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said his party will contest the upcoming elections to the various local bodies alone. Talking to reporters, the Rajya Sabha MP said the INDIA bloc and Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances were for the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. "In an alliance, workers of individual parties don't get opportunities, and it hampers organisational growth. We will contest polls to the Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and other municipal corporations, zilla parishads and panchayats on our strength," he said. He said party chief Uddhav Thackeray gave the party indications that it should go alone. Hitting out at Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar for indulging in a blame game over the MVA's defeat in the state assembly, Raut said those who don't believe in consensus and compromise have no right to be in an alliance. He further claimed that the INDIA bloc did not hold a single meeting after the Lok Sabha elections. "We were not able to appoint even a convenor for INDIA bloc. I

Ajit Pawar-led NCP trying to poach rival faction MPs, claims Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday claimed that the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was trying to engineer defections in the rival NCP (SP), promising its leaders berths in the union cabinet. Raut's comment came after NCP leader Amol Mitkati said that some Lok Sabha members from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP were in contact with Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. NCP (SP) MLA and former state minister Jitendra Awhad also alleged that Sunil Tatkare, state chief of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, had asked MPs of the rival faction to "leave the father and daughter". Tatkare's reaction to these claims was awaited. Speaking to reporters, Raut alleged that senior NCP leader Praful Patel and Tatkare had been assigned the task of engineering defections in the Sharad Pawar-led faction. At present, the Ajit-led NCP has only one Lok Sabha MP, Tatkare, while the rival NCP (SP) has eight Lok Sabha members. "The party (NCP) will not get any post in the Union ...

BJP launches projects before polls, neglects promises for 5 years: Raut

He cited the 'Sheeshmahal' as an example, referencing a report by a leading newspaper revealing excessive expenditure on the Delhi CM's residence, based on the CAG report

Shiv Sena (UBT) might contest BMC polls by itself, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday hinted that his party might go solo in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election without exiting the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Talking to reporters, Raut said party workers were insisting the organisation go solo in the local body polls, as there were more aspirants than for the Lok Sabha or state assembly polls. "Talks are on between Uddhav Thackeray and other party leaders (about whether to go solo) for the BMC polls. Workers want the party to contest the polls solo," he said. The undivided Shiv Sena controlled the cash-rich BMC for 25 consecutive years from 1997 to 2022. The term of the previous elected representatives of the BMC ended in early March 2022, and fresh polls are due for nearly three years now. Raut said the party's power in Mumbai is undisputed. "If had we got more seats to contest in Mumbai (during the assembly polls), it would have won them," he said, claiming that it was necessary to win Mumbai or else the c

Shiv Sena, Cong also contributed to Ram Mandir movement, says Sanjay Raut

Raut lashed out at Bhagwat and said that he is the one who brought such people to power and should take responsibility now

Attacks on 'Marathi manoos' on rise after BJP's win in Maharashtra: Raut

Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Friday claimed attacks on Marathi-speaking people have increased after the BJP won the Maharashtra assembly polls and alleged that an environment was being created to drive them out of Mumbai and neighbouring areas. Talking to reporters, Raut highlighted an incident at Kalyan in Thane district, where non-Marathi-speaking people allegedly attacked a Marathi-speaking family. He further dubbed the Maharashtra government as "inauspicious" over the death of 14 people in the collision between a navy craft and a passenger ferry. He alleged that dacoity and murders were taking place in villages and districts. "A conspiracy is being hatched to attack Marathi manoos. Kalyan was the start," he said. The Sena (UBT) leader claimed the BJP split the Shiv Sena, an "organisation of Marathi manoos", and weakened it so that the natives are treated like second-class citizens, and Mumbai and areas around it are given to non-Marathi-speaking builders and ...