MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said a conference of non-BJP chief ministers is likely to be held in Mumbai soon to discuss the current political situation in the country.
Raut also said that there was a ‘game plan’ to impose President’s rule in Maharashtra by citing law and order situation if riots break out in the name of Lord Hanuman. Raut said in Rok Thok, his weekly column in Saamna, the Sena mouthpiece that MNS chief Raj Thackeray was running the BJP’s agenda.
“West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has written to the non-BJP CM’s stressing on the need to discuss the current situation in the country. NCP president Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray have discussed this and efforts are on to hold such a conference in Mumbai. Various issues including unemployment, inflation, misuse of central investigative agencies, and attempts to create communal discord will be discussed in the meeting,” Raut said.
Raut said the controversy over loudspeakers on mosques and reciting of Hanuman Chalisa was part of preparations for Mumbai and Thane municipal corporation elections. Raut also said that the country is being pushed into instability and tension by creating violence in the name of Lord Ram.
“MNS chief Raj Thackeray initially took up the ‘Marathi manoos agenda and Marathi pride. When this issue did not work against the Shiv Sena, now they turned towards Hindutva. They demanded that loudspeakers on mosques should be removed or else they threatened to recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ in front of mosques. Raj Thackeray is implementing the agenda of the BJP. These are all preparations for the Mumbai and Thane municipal elections. In the event of riots in the name of Lord Hanuman …there is a game plan to impose president’s rule in Maharashtra by citing law and order situation,” Raut said in his column.
“In Maharashtra, the politics of loudspeakers on mosques is taking shape and Ram Navami riots have started elsewhere in the country. If anyone wants to win the elections by fanning the flames of bigotry and trampling on peace, they are seen sowing the seeds of the second partition of the country with their own hands. A party like the BJP has openly adopted the policy of winning the elections by creating religious hatred, even if the country is torn apart,” Raut said.
Raut reiterated his veiled ‘new Hindu Owaisi’ jibe at MNS chief Raj Thackeray who has taken a hardline stand seeking the removal of loudspeakers on mosques by May 3.
“In Maharashtra too, a ‘Hindu Owaisi’ made all efforts to disrupt peace on Hanuman Jayanti. Efforts were made to create disturbances in Maharashtra but people and the police are patient and strong,” Raut said.