On Sunday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who is also the editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, questioned whether Atal Ji’s death was announced late so that PM Modi could deliver his speech on 15th August without any disruption. He asked this question in an article in Marathi titled: “What is Swarajya?”. Sanjay Raut wrote, “Rather than our people, our rulers should first understand what is ‘swarajya’ (self-rule). Vajpayee died on 16 August, but from 12-13 August, his condition was deteriorating. To avoid national mourning and lowering of flag to half-mast on Independence Day, and also (because) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to make his elaborate speech from the Red Fort, Vajpayee left this world on 16 August (or his death was announced).”
This is the dirtiest kind of politics. The nation is still mourning over the demise of its most beloved leader and a supposed ‘ally’ is latching on the death of nation’s beloved leader to score some cheap political points. Even the opposition parties have not raised such nonsense questions. If Shiv Sena has any shame left then it should immediately remove Sanjay Raut from its party. With the presence of people like Sanjay Raut, no wonder Shiv Sena is facing an unprecedented debacle in the electoral politics.
No one reads ‘Saamna’ in Maharashtra because they come up with such nonsense conspiracy theories and dull content. In this article also Sanjay Raut ranted against the BJP in great length. It would be not wrong to say that the content of ‘Saamana’ contributed in the further debacle of Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena should immediately remove Sanjay Raut and give chance to some young faces. Time and again Sanjay Raut had hurt the image and prospect of Shiv Sena with his nonsense speeches and wrong advices. Although he has not fought any election, he has been Uddhav Thackeray’s closest advisor. It’s important to note that Sanjay Raut is basically not in favour of the of BJP leadership. Relations between the BJP and Shiv Sena suffered a serious setback because of an ill-informed and semi-educated advisor of Uddhav Thackeray. And what Sanjay Raut has said about Atal Ji’s death, might end up further spoiling the relationship between Shiv Sena and BJP and if it happens then Shiv Sena will be at the losing end. The popularity of the party and donation has declined over the last few years due to weak leadership and political mismanagement of Uddhav Thackeray. Under the able leadership of its founder Balasaheb Thackeray the Shiv Sena had never been this weak. With his demise even its grand standing core attire of Hindutva too seems to be eroding as they now harbor appeasement policies for the minorities which they had ably scoffed at, laughed and criticised the Congress. The BJP is strong enough to go alone and win ample number of seats but same is not the case with Shiv Sena.