Raut Offers Conditional Apology To SC
The Rajya Sabha MP said he had been seeking justice for four years over the Shiv Sena’s party symbol and the anger may have led him to use an inappropriate word.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut has offered a conditional apology to the Supreme Court following observations by the Chief Justice of India, while simultaneously demanding justice on critical issues like electoral roll irregularities and the prolonged Shiv Sena symbol case.
If the Supreme Court thinks he had made inappropriate remarks against it, there was nothing wrong with apologising to the institution which safeguards the Indian Constitution, said Raut.
The Rajya Sabha MP said he had been seeking justice for four years over the Shiv Sena’s party symbol and the anger may have led him to use an inappropriate word. He said that he was ready to apologise “10 times” for it.
“If a wrong word has come out of my mouth, I will tell the Supreme Court that I apologise 10 times. But the responsibility to save democracy in this country is yours,” Raut said.
His remarks come a day after the Supreme Court asked him to explain his conduct over comments critical of CJI Surya Kant.
The Supreme Court issued notices to Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle on a plea by the Supreme Court Bar Association seeking criminal contempt proceedings over their remarks against the CJI.
Speaking on it, Raut said he had never intended to commit contempt of court and that his remarks reflected public anger over alleged electoral irregularities, political defections, and the functioning of constitutional institutions.
The Shiv Sena UBT leader said that the Supreme Court was the ‘last ray of hope’ for those seeking justice and said he would continue to approach it.
Referring to the Opposition's petition over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the matter, Raut said, “I have expressed my apology, but give us justice. Give justice to 13 crore voters (whose names were deleted from voter lists).”
Raut also referred to certain remarks he had made about the ‘delay’ in the ongoing hearing linked to the name and symbol of the undivided Shiv Sena, which split in 2022 after Eknath Shinde, the current deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, led a rebellion against then party chief Uddhav Thackeray. Subsequently, the group headed by Shinde got the original name and its bow-and-arrow symbol.
“You have to understand our anguish. It’s been four and a half years. We are fighting the case about the Shiv Sena name and symbol. Four CJIs changed (during the course of hearing), and the anti-Constitutional government was installed. Give us justice. This is our only demand. If this (demand) is wrong, then I apologise to the Supreme Court,” Raut added.