Amid mounting speculation over a possible split in Shiv Sena (UBT), Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut lost his cool during a press conference, launching a scathing attack on MPs allegedly in touch with the rival Eknath Shinde faction. He also hurled abuses and asked the media not to censor his remarks.Addressing reporters in Delhi alongside party MPs Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai, Raut said those planning to leave the party should first resign from their positions and seek a fresh mandate from the people.He said,”These people are dishonest; dishonesty is in their blood, b*****i chya.”“If anyone wants to go, they can resign and leave. If such reports about our MPs are false, they should come out and deny them. This time, the people of Maharashtra will not remain silent,” Raut said.Referring to the alleged rebels, he said the party leadership had worked hard to ensure their electoral victories and warned of consequences if they defected.“Uddhav ji and all of us shed blood and sweat to get these MPs elected. If despite that such reports emerge, we will not spare them,” he said.Raut also alleged that attempts were being made to engineer a split in the party through monetary inducements. Claiming to have received information about the alleged operation, he said MPs were offered large sums of money to switch sides.“I have information that Rs 15 crore each was delivered to MPs, after which they boarded chartered flights from places including Nanded and Pune. We have issued a whip for tomorrow’s parliamentary party meeting, and Arvind Sawant has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker,” he alleged.The remarks come amid intense political buzz over reports that several of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s nine MPs are in contact with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. However, no MP has publicly confirmed plans to defect and the party has not officially acknowledged any split.Questioning the motives of those allegedly considering a switch, Raut said the MPs owed their electoral success to the party and its supporters.“What kind of drama is this? Whoever wants to leave should resign first. The people elected you on our ticket and our symbol,” he said.Raut further asserted that Shiv Sena (UBT) would continue to resist any attempt to weaken the party through what he described as “Operation Tiger”.“We will remain in Delhi and continue fighting against such attempts,” he said.Emphasising his loyalty to the party, Raut added, “Shiv Sena (UBT) is our mother. People have taken oaths in the names of their loved ones and leaders. Such betrayal will not be tolerated.”Following the controversy over Raut’s remarks, party MP Anil Desai defended him, saying the comments were not directed at any specific individual.“These were expressions made in the heat of the moment. When someone who has spent nearly 50 years in public life speaks emotionally, such things can happen. He has clarified that he was not targeting any particular person,” Desai said.Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) has called a meeting of its Lok Sabha MPs at the Parliamentary Party Office in Delhi on June 18 and is also expected to raise the matter before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.(With ANI inputs)
