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Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut accuses BJP 'elements' of fanning agitation

He said despite differences between the Sena and BJP, Fadnavis was doing good work and the Sena had a good dialogue with him.

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Sanjay Raut
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Under fire over a Saamna cartoon lampooning protesters from the Maratha community, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut alleged that some elements in BJP, opposed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, were involved in fanning the agitation.

Raut, who is the Executive Editor of the party mouthpiece Saamna, has found himself in the cross-hairs of Maratha groups after the cartoon was published in the newspaper on Sunday. He said curtains needed to be brought down on the controversy after an apology by cartoonist Srinivas Prabhudesai. He denied that the cartoon had led to disgruntlement in the Sena's rank and file, with some elected representatives threatening to quit.

"The CM has expressed this suspicion himself," said Raut, when asked if the morchas were aimed at destablising Fadnavis, adding that a "handful of people who play politics in the name of caste" were involved.

"This includes cartoons from all communities," he said, adding that Fadnavis had seen through this. "It may be," replied Raut, when questioned if elements from the BJP opposed to Fadnavis, were also involved.

"If the CM fears that some things are happening behind the scenes to destablise him, it is true," said Raut, adding that Fadnavis had "perfect information" and needed to get details about those within the BJP who were involved.

He said despite differences between the Sena and BJP, Fadnavis was doing good work and the Sena had a good dialogue with him.

"The NCP lacks the moral right (to fuel the protests) as the conditions that have led to the Marathas taking to the streets have come to the fore during their rule. The farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada who committed suicide were Marathas. How many times did NCP ministers go to their houses? We went, Uddhav Thackeray went, we helped them from our pockets, what did the government do? Those who are fuelling the morchas have forced the Maratha farmers to commit suicide," charged Raut, adding that the NCP could be behind these protests.

Raut dismissed the stone pelting and ink throwing on Saamna offices in Navi Mumbai and Thane as "trivial incidents". "Someone tied cloth on their faces and pelted two stones and threw ink from the street," he said, challenging the culprits to "learn from us what an attack means".

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