Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has asked Prime Minister Narendra if he support his cabinet colleague for issuing threats to NCP leader Sharad Pawar. Raut told reporters that a cabinet minister from the Modi government issued threats to Pawar, whose party is an ally of the Maharashtra government headed by Uddhav Thackeray.
Raut tweeted, “If Sharad Pawar tries to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi government,he will not be allowed to go home. We will block him on the way. The government will survive or go..but in the case of Sharad Pawar, such language is not acceptable to Maharashtra.”
Raut also tagged the prime minister’s office in his social media post.
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Later speaking to reporters, the Shiv Sena MP said, “Threats are being issued to honourable Pawar sahab. A union minister is issuing threats. Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah ji, please have a listen. One of your ministers is issuing threats to Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra.”
Although Raut did not name the union minister, he is believed to be hinting at Union Minister Narayan Rane, who had recently warned of consequences accusing Pawar of issuing threats to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.
Raut said that his party had already requested the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker to initiate proceedings to disqualify at least 12 Shiv Sena MLAs, who are currently staying in Assam.
The Maharashtra government plunged into crisis after Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde led the rebellion against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and holed himself up in a hotel in BJP-ruled Gujarat. At that time, he was said to have the support of 21 Shiva Sena MLAs. Rebel MLAs were later shifted to another BJP-ruled state, Assam. Shinde has now claimed to enjoy the support of 40 Shiv Sena MLAs.
Thackeray has since vacated the official residence of the state chief minister as he braces himself for the floor test in the assembly.