Shiv Sena Rebel MP Under Fire for Threatening Journalists

Mumbai:Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Dina Patil, who recently defected to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, on Thursday courted controversy by issuing threats to kill journalists. His statements have sparked angry reactions across the state with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressing strong displeasure. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde too said he has asked the MP to express regret over the remark.

Irked by the questions regarding his daughter and BMC corporator Rajul Patil choosing to stay with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena even after his defection to Shinde Sena, the Mumbai North East MP threatened to assault and kill journalists. “Why are you poking your nose in my affairs? If you come again, I will kill you,” Patil told journalists.

In a video of the exchange, Patil is heard telling the reporter that he would ‘forget’ he was an MP and beat him if he was approached again for a reaction.

The MP warned that if the journalists did not turn off their cameras and said, “The anger should not go to my head otherwise I will lose my cool. If you come again and ask such questions, you will not return.”

However, Shinde sought to play down the controversy, saying he has asked the MP to express regret over the remark. “Sanjay Dina Patil had no intention to insult the journalists. If anyone has been hurt by his words, he has expressed his willingness to express regret,” Shinde said.

“I have clearly told Sanjay Dina Patil that if you have made any untoward remarks, you should express regret,” he added.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his displeasure stating that it was not right to threaten anyone in this manner.

The journalist organisations in Maharashtra also strongly condemned Patil’s statements with scribes boycotting his presser in the evening.

Meanwhile, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut wrote to the Mumbai police commissioner, demanding an inquiry into Patil’s earlier on-camera remarks in which he allegedly claimed that five people had been killed after his father, former Congress MLA Dina Patil, was attacked.

Raut also sought legal action against Patil, including registration of a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Patil earlier had made remarks that he would “throw bombs” at anyone protesting against his defection, enter their homes and “kill them.”

Speaking on Patil’s alleged threats to hurl bomb, Raut wrote, “A threat from an MP to hurl a bomb is alarming. If he has manufactured these bombs at home, his premises must be searched immediately, with the assistance of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). If he obtained these bombs from a terrorist gang, it must be treated as a serious national security issue and he needs to be arrested under the UAPA for involvement in terrorist and anti-national activities.”

Patil was one of the six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs who switched their loyalties to Shinde Sena last week.