'Not A Secret Meeting, Had To Conduct An Interview For Saamana,'Sanjay Raut Clears The Air On His Meeting With Fadnavis

Denying the speculations of political closeness between BJP and Sena, Raut said that Saamana, the mouthpiece of Sena, is going to start a segment of interviews of top leaders and he interviewed Fadnavis for the same. He said he has also interviewed NCP leader Sharad Pawar for the same purpose.

(File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut who had created quite a political ruffle after meeting Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier today, sought to clear the air around the meeting and said that the purpose of the meeting was to interview Fadnavis for a piece in ‘Saamana’. Raut said that Saamana, the mouthpiece of Sena, is going to start a segment of interviews of top leaders. He said he has also interviewed NCP leader Sharad Pawar for the same purpose. It is to be noted that the meeting between the two leaders had triggered speculations in the political circles that something was brewing up between the two parties with many terming it as ice-breaking move between Sena and BJP. It was also being said that Sena is unhappy with its present situation in the coalition with NCP and Congress. When quizzed why the meeting was a closed door one, Raut said it wasn’t a closed dor meet, in fact he met Fadnavis openly, just like he met Sharad Pawar for the purpose of interview. Devendra Fadnavis is the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a senior leader of BJP, he is the leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.  In politics, it is not a crime for leaders of different parties to meet,” said Raut. “I met Fadnavis openly and held discussion on several topics, just like I had with Sharad Pawar. Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah, Devendra Fadnavis all have to be interviewed for Saamana,” he said. The MVA government in Maharashtra has found itself at the centre of massive criticism recently over the lackadaisical attitude in the probe of the death case of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, followed by Raut's verbal spat with actress Kangana Ranaut and the consecutive demolition of her bungalow. The mismanagement of Covid-19 pandemic is also one of the chief reasons why the party is at the receiving end of criticism.