Raut Says Talks of Uddhav, Raj Union Only Emotional
Uddhav also declared that he was ready to join hands with his cousin, who is now his bete noire
Mumbai: Amidst the buzz of possible reunion between estranged Thackeray cousins, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that the talks of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray coming together are only ‘emotional’. The final decision on whether Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) coming together will be decided by ‘both brothers,’ he said.
“At this moment, there is no alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS. Currently, emotional talks are going on,” Raut said.
Regarding Shiv Sena (UBT), Raut said, “We will accept any decision taken by Uddhav Thackeray. We have conveyed our feelings to our leader as well.”
Raut further stated that the relationship between the two brothers had not been broken. “Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are brothers. They (Raj and Uddhav) meet at family events. As a family, they are still in cordial relationship. The relationship is not broken.”
The Rajya Sabha MP said that the Thackeray brothers had not set any prerequisites for a tie-up in the future. “Raj Thackeray talks about the interest of Maharashtra, so does Uddhav Thackeray. The BJP does not fit in it. Those who are with the BJP also do not fit into it,” he said.
Raut dubbed the BJP as the “enemy of Maharashtra” and claimed that they were responsible for the split in the Shiv Sena, which had worked for the best interests of Maharashtra.
“Uddhav Ji said that there are a few parties who claim to be well-wishers of Maharashtra, but they are the enemy of Maharashtra. They broke Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena to attack the pride of Maharashtra and with such parties we shouldn’t have any relations, and then only we can be true Maharashtrians. This is not a condition but the feelings of the people of Maharashtra, and this is what Udhhav ji has said,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP added.
MNS’ Mumbai president and party spokesperson, Sandeep Deshpande, stated that people were reading too much into the situation and that the Sena (UBT) must back the MNS in defending the Marathi people and language.
“Everyone feels that two brothers should come together, but how? If you are not going to back (us) on the issue of Marathi, how will things go forward?” Deshpande said.
Raj Thackeray, in a podcast interview with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar released on Saturday, said that he had no issues working with Uddhav Thackeray in the undivided Shiv Sena. He stated that the only question was whether Uddhav Thackeray wanted to work with him.
Giving a positive response, Uddhav Thackeray, at a party event, said, “The differences are trivial. I am ready to keep it aside. Maharashtra is my priority.”