Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that this election (Lok Sabha 2024) is difficult for the Bhartiya Janata Party. Due to this reason the centre-ruling party's program is "to continuously hurt people".
Raut compared the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to political scenarios in Russia and China, saying, "Today, no one is safe in this country. Anyone can be arrested. The current pattern in India is similar to that in Russia and China. People have chosen Arvind Kejriwal as their Chief Minister. So, only the people will decide his fate."
Commenting on whether Delhi CM should resign or not after his arrest, Raut told reporters, "The people have elected Arvind Kejriwal as their Chief Minister, hence, it is solely up to them to determine his fate".
These remarks follow a complaint lodged by the Mumbai wing of BJP, seeking action against Raut for his allegedly disparaging comment concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Reacting to Raut's statement, State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule condemned the language and examples used against PM Narendra Modi, emphasising Modi's esteemed position among the Indian populace. Bawankule criticised the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP's action, citing it as a reflection of the party's declining standards.
Furthermore, Bawankule predicted a grim electoral outcome for Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in the upcoming 2024 polls, suggesting that the party would face significant setbacks.
Addressing a public gathering in Sangli/Buldhana, Raut remarked, "Shivaji Maharaj, a revered historical figure, hailed from Maharashtra. In contrast, Aurangzeb, another historical figure, was born in Gujarat. It is noteworthy that PM Narendra Modi also hails from Gujarat, specifically a village adjacent to Aurangzeb's birthplace. Hence, the ideological inclinations of Aurangzeb in Gujarat and Delhi appear to be influencing Maharashtra's political landscape vis-à-vis Shiv Sena (UBT)."